Vigilantes launch campaign to drive ‘fake homeless people’ out of seaside town – but charity hits back saying rough sleepers ARE real and need help
Businesses in Torbay have started photographing beggars to check with authorities whether they're genuinely destitute - or just scammers
A CAMPAIGN to drive 'fake' homeless people from the streets has triggered an avalanche of outrage from do-gooders.
Businesses in Torbay have started photographing beggars to check with authorities whether they're genuinely destitute - or just scammers.
But cops and the local council have hit out at the measure by claiming it encourages vigilantes.
They also claim it tars those in real need with the same 'fake homeless' brush.
But campaigners claim the move has been a great success - and have already secured promises from five fakers that they won't beg anymore.
Homeless charity Humanity Torbay have launched a new campaign called Killing with Kindness and urge people not to give money to beggars or the homeless directly but to homeless charities who provide food, clothing and help.
Chairwoman Ashley Sims said: "One thing these people don't like is being photographed or filmed, so we've gone and done that.
"We have identified who is genuine with the relevant charities and their names and if they are homeless or not. Five of them have told us they wont go begging anymore if I don't out their photo up.
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"Of the 17 photographed, only two were genuine street homeless."
But homeless hostel boss Nick Pannell blasted: "'The persecuting of vulnerable adults on our streets is a disgrace and those involved in encouraging it should be ashamed of themselves.
"They are not professional beggars changing out of smart designer clothes into rags, but genuinely desperate, sad, lonely, alienated human beings with profound problems who are living at the edge of our communities."
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