Bolton Council and Police Minister Kit Malthouse on begging in Bolton

Now a council boss has explained why beggars are taken to court.

Since the introduction of public space protection orders (PSPO) to combat all types of anti-social behaviour, which includes drinking on the town centre street, begging was the most prevalent of any issue - seven times over.

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The PSPO was introduced in April 2019.

Those in breach can be punishable by fixed penalty notice - an on the spot fine of £100. This can rise to £1,000 if the charge ends up in court.

The Bolton News asked Police Minister Kit Malthouse, his thoughts on the process, and what the best way to deal with instances of aggressive begging during his visit to Bolton this week.

He said: “It depends on the situation. One of the key issues that I always try and push in these particular types of crime is – think about what is driving the crime.

“If that individual is a drug addict, are they getting the treatment and rehabilitation they need? If they are homeless, is there some way we can support them through our rough sleeping initiative to get them back into a roof and into a sensible life?

Policing Minister Kit Malthouse, Breightmet neighbourhood watch coordinator James Abalain and Cllr Adele Warren discussing Bolton's policing issues

“In some circumstance going through criminal justice system is correct.

“There are some people who are aggressively begging and are housed and frankly doing it to make a living.

“There are others who are doing it to fund and addiction. There are others that are doing it out of desperation, because that’s all they can do.”

He added: “We need to have a system that is fit for all of them, fundamentally doing what all crime fighting is about, which is solving problems, understanding what is driving the crime and removing that driver.”

Cllr Adele Warren clarified the council’s reasoning for this way of dealing with aggressive begging, saying: “The idea is that, even though it may seem like a fine is the first step, and it is, but the whole point is actually to get them in a magistrate court and get them help. Whether that’s addiction, whether it’s counselling.

“A lot of people that are involved in aggressive begging are not homeless. They are helped.

"Often, they have problems that are going alongside it, so the whole point of the fines is to get them to the point where they’re actually at a court and they can be mandated help, it’s not to fine them and expect payment. That’s never the point of those.”