Career beggars have been caught driving into Huddersfield town centre from as far away as Leeds and Bradford and fleecing kind-hearted people, the Examiner can reveal.
On Wednesday, during a day of action, police officers, Kirklees Council housing officials and Lifeline drug and alcohol support workers were out in force trying to tackle the problems which blight the centre for business owners, residents and visitors.
In a briefing at Huddersfield Police Station, Pc Scott Gardner who led the day of action, told the assembled professionals: “The idea is to tackle anti-social behaviour in the town centre working with partners.
“I thought all the street beggars were harmless but that’s not so.
“Some of them are ‘career’ beggars, (people who make their living from professional begging), who came in from Leeds and Bradford.
“They came in, almost on a minibus or cars, with signs saying ‘Hungry and Homeless’.”
He said they were intent on “topping up” their benefits from generous people “digging into their pockets.
“One east European lady who has a house on Bradford Road was found begging,” he said.
“We had CCTV. Within 15 minutes she had got £7, a foot-long Subway sandwich and a Kentucky Fried Chicken box.
“When we took her home she had a TV larger than mine and was chain-smoking.”
