AGGRESSIVE begging is an issue that has continued to grow across south Essex.

Previously it was a problem that was expected more in London, however, in recent years, Essex’ homeless population has increased drastically.

Basildon Council has noticed the issue and has started a new campaign to stop residents from handing money over to rough sleepers.

The homelessness team’s new initiative, ‘Change the way you give’ alongside homeless charity, St Mungo’s, Basildon Town Centre Management and Eastgate Shopping Centre plans to get more residents to offer rough sleepers food and drink rather than money.

Phil Turner, councillor for Billericay West, says that it is an ongoing issue that needs to be addressed.

He said: “I think there are people who generally give to needy causes but there is a limit.

“Residents do not like being intimidated in the street, if this is happening, people should not be treated like that.

“We talk about mental health issues a lot and this should not only be for rough sleepers.

“Residents being harassed and intimidated into handing over their money could experience damaging effects on them.”

Mr Turner did say that there are cases where people are not forceful when asking for money in the town.

He said: “The lady who sells the Big Issue in Billericay High Street is very pleasant.

“Quite often I will purchase it because of her persistence and kindness.

“We would not expect residents to be aggressive with beggars and we would also not expect beggars to be aggressive with residents.”

Although the new Basildon council initiative shows that there could be a different way to supply rough sleepers’ needs, residents in Billericay are finding that money is the only motivation of one woman.

One irate Billericay resident, who asked not to be named but lives in Marlborough Way, said: “It is beyond a joke. There is one woman in town who literally follows you down the High Street, asking shopper after shopper to give her a fiver to ‘get the bus home’ and she doesn’t take no for an answer.”

The woman has been seen around Billericay since the beginning of the summer, reportedly blocking people into their cars and asking for money, or she is directly approaching people in High Street and also Radford Way, demanding only cash from passers by.

The resident continued: “You try and be polite but it is difficult to be so.

“As soon as she realises that you aren’t going to hand over any cash, she moves on to the next person.

“It is becoming more and more of a problem across south Essex, but it is even worse in London. Just last week I was in Victoria and there was a beggar actually sitting beneath a cashpoint!

“Far tougher action needs to be taken before it spirals out of control.”

Sgt Ian Hughes, of the Southend Community Policing Team said that these incidents should not be measured on face value and that many rough sleepers and aggressive beggars are in those situations due to childhood trauma or addiction.

He said: “We are working with agencies to work on stopping this in the longer term.

“Although these people have their intentions at hand, they may have alcohol, drug or other problems from childhood.

“Rather than giving them a pound, it is better to give them food or drink.

“National operations like ‘Killing With Kindness’ show that there is a direct link between giving money instead of food and drink to rough sleepers.

“In Southend, we have a vast number of beggars and people who are termed as rough sleepers.

“We also have some of the best groups to help people in the area who can give four square meals a day to rough sleepers, soup kitchens and other groups so it is something that can be used to stop these issues.”