RESIDENTS and shoppers in Shipley and Saltaire have been urged not to give money to beggars on the street in a crackdown on homelessness and drug use.

Shipley’s Green Party councillors – Kevin Warnes, Martin Love and Hawarun Hussain – have asked people to stop giving food and money to beggars who regularly camp out at two of the area’s shops.

The councillors highlighted homeless people outside Adsa, in Manor Lane, Shipley, and the Co-op in Bingley Road, Saltaire.

Shoppers have instead been urged to donate money to organisations which help the homeless and drug users in the Bradford district, such as Arch Bradford, which offers support to people who have substance misuse issues that link to criminal behaviour, and works with Bradford Council and the police.

Cllr Warnes praised people’s generosity for wanting to help the homeless people, but said they should instead give their cash to organisations that could help them.

He said beggars were frequently trying to sell back food given to them by shoppers and cash handed to them was often being used for substance misuse.

Cllr Warnes said: “It has been an issue for at least a year.

“These individuals are parked up outside these two shops, in particular, on a regular basis. We are trying to encourage local people not to give them food or money.

“We want residents to be aware that giving food or money to these individuals is not really helping them. It is in fact encouraging them to ignore help that is available from groups like Arch and the Council.

“It is not particularly helpful giving them money or food in that type of situation.

“I don’t think we are going to solve the problem overnight, it is going to continue for a long time.

“But we will get to a better situation if we can get these people to engage with the help that is available. I feel sorry for the people involved in what is a big problem.

“The vagrancy and begging is obviously a complex challenge with a range of causes and requires repeated interventions and multi-agency working.”

A homeless man, who often camps outside the Co-op store in Saltaire, had his belongings – including a duvet, red blanket and two holdalls – removed from in front of the store by staff when the Telegraph & Argus visited yesterday.

He had used the site for the last nine months.

The man, who did not wish to be named and was originally from Liverpool, said: “I just sleep in there when it is wet.

“I want to work but nobody wants to take me on for a job when I haven’t got a roof over my head.”

In Shipley, a man was seen begging near the Asda store yesterday.

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