Giving money to people who beg always has negative consequences. It encourages begging—either by fraudsters who have found a way to make easy money, or by genuinely helpless people who become accustomed to this simplest way of solving their problems. “And above all, let us not reinforce the habit of begging in children,” officers appeal. “By giving them money, we reduce their chances of having a normal childhood. It happens that children, especially those with disabilities, are used as a stimulus intended to force a helping impulse.”
The causes of begging are usually the same: difficult financial and life circumstances, unemployment or homelessness. Nowadays, another cause has also emerged—the opportunity to make easy money.
Three types of begging are distinguished:
- when begging is a consequence of social dysfunction, concerning, for example, alcoholics, drug addicts and people with mental illnesses
- begging resulting from a person’s difficult life situation and helplessness
- begging as a way of earning money.
It is also important to make society aware of the truth about this problem. It should be remembered that using children for begging is a form of violence, used particularly against children with disabilities or young children who arouse public sympathy. There is no doubt that this contradicts children’s guaranteed right to protection from violence, cruelty, exploitation, demoralization, neglect and other ill-treatment.
We should pay attention to people who, for example, wash vehicle windows at street intersections or petrol stations, unlawfully charge money for indicating a free parking space, or beg near restaurant gardens. People who beg often behave in an intrusive, vulgar and aggressive manner, thereby affecting the sense of security and comfort of everyday life. We may often be unaware that human trafficking is concealed behind the practice of begging.
Let us remember that anyone may report to the police an offence consisting in the practice of begging.
Social Prevention Team of KPP Lubin/ii