Majority of residents in Helsinki region want to ban begging

Activity appears organised - equipment cache found in Katajanokka

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Six out of ten residents of the Greater Helsinki area would like to see begging banned in public places. One in three residents do not see a need to take any measures on the matter.
      The poll commissioned by Helsingin Sanomat and conducted by Suomen Gallup did not find great differences among the prevailing attitudes in Helsinki, Espoo, and Vantaa. However, there was some correlation in viewpoints with gender, age, party affiliation, and profession.
     
Women tend to take a more negative attitude toward public begging than men, with 63 per cent of women favouring a ban. Just 55 per cent of men felt the same way.
      The older the respondent, the more negative the attitude toward mendicants. Of those under the age of 25, 41 per cent felt that begging should not be banned. Of those over 64, only one in five felt the same way, while 67 per cent of senior citizens would impose a ban on begging.
      Lower-ranking white-collar employees, labourers, and pensioners had the most negative attitudes toward begging. Higher-ranking white-collar employees and students were somewhat more sympathetic toward the beggars' plight.
     
Supporters of the Social Democratic Party and the National Coalition Party were most eager to make public begging illegal. Among Social Democratic supporters, the figure was 63 per cent, and among National Coalition Party supporters it was 73 per cent.
      There was more sympathy for alms-seekers among supporters of the Left Alliance, the Greens, and the Swedish People’s Party.
      Nearly half of supporters of the Left Alliance felt that begging should not be banned, while a ban was opposed by two in five Green supporters.
     
There has been a sharp increase in the number of foreigners in the centre of Helsinki begging for money on their knees, or selling roses. The beggars are primarily citizens of Romania and Bulgaria, and members of the Roma minority.
      Helsinki has asked for guidance from the state on how to deal with the issue.
      Begging is not a crime under Finnish law unless it causes a disturbance.
     
Police say that the activities of the Romanian beggars appear to be tightly organised. It is a relatively new phenomenon in Finland, becoming conspicuous only since last summer.
      In late November police found a cache of supplies used by beggars in Katajanokka in the centre of Helsinki. Police said that the equipment included crutches and other props used to arouse pity among passers-by, although none of the beggars involved actually suffered from a disability.
      Romanian citizens are allowed to spend up to three months in another EU country without any special reason. They can be expelled only if they have committed serious or repeated crimes. Begging is not considered an offence that would warrant deportation.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Helsinki police find stolen goods in van used by Romanian beggars (19.11.2007)
  Beggars on their knees cause consternation on Helsinki streets (21.10.2007)
  Authorities powerless to act against beggars with children in tow (6.8.2007)

Helsingin Sanomat