Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!

On my own doorstep

About 2 minutes ago someone rang my doorbell. There they were. Two beggars and a baby on my doorstep, with the man saying “This is my wife, this is my baby, we have nothing..”.
I decided to shut the door on them and not engage as I was on my own and did not appreciate being approached by beggars in my own home and was certainly not interested in being scammed or robbed by these people.
Am I being insensitive? Perhanps, but I value my own personal safety!
Another thought is that we have recently returned from holiday. Were they actually checking if we were still away?

Surely this thing is illegal? Anyone else had this bunch come knocking? Anyone know how they are?

This also reflects on how many beggars there now are on our bit of Green Lanes. It’s sometimes a little scary, as some are quite aggressive.

What can be / is being done about this?

Whoops, turned in to two discussions in one I think.

Tags for Forum Posts: begging, scam

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by John McMullan on June 20, 2010 at 19:45

Wait until the Conservative party are finished with Tottenham.

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Permalink Reply by Birdy_Too on June 21, 2010 at 9:18

Descriptions, Anette?

I had a guy on Effingham a couple of weeks back, but a different person I think.

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Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton on June 21, 2010 at 11:52

This is an ongoing and fascinating discussion on HoL.

In the street, Zena and I tend to disagree about giving people money - probably because she was once homeless. I'm just over-suspicious; having, in the past, been scammed too often. This included plausible explanations about emergencies and hospitals - only to discover that the person used the same story with other people.

In New York once, a Hare Krishna follower asked me for money. I said I was a foreigner and running very low myself. They smiled and gave me a voucher for a free meal at a Hare Krishna restaurant.

Here's a guide to panhandling.

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Permalink Reply by Tammy Palmer on June 21, 2010 at 12:08

I saw a young man sitting in the street begging on one of the really hot Sundays a few weeks ago with a very young child who looked quite distressed - no water or sun protection , he had the usual sign about his family being homeless etc. I was quite concerned for the child and was minded to report it to the police - I didn't as I wasn't convinced that they would take any action.
I think you were quite right not to let them in. There was another family in Tottenham who had their home broken into by squatters - - this is the second case in Tottenham. I am becoming increasing more concerned about these groups - a more vulnerable member of the community may well have let them in.
It would be interesting to know how the police are tackling these groups - by all accounts both of the families in Tottenham had a real issue in actually getting them out of their home as the police would not intervene

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Permalink Reply by John D on June 21, 2010 at 12:35

Begging IS illegal.

Of course I occasionally give money to beggars but I feel guilty afterwards. It just perpetuates their dependency even if it temporarily relieves their need. If I really cared about the beggar I would empty my bank account for them but my 50p or a pound is just a sop to my conscience.

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Permalink Reply by Tammy Palmer on June 21, 2010 at 12:49

John is right in that giving money to people who beg really doesn't help their situation and they do become dependent on it. Many homeless charities discourage people from giving money to beggers in the street and encourage them to support initatives like the big issue instead. I don't want to give money to someone and help feed their drug or booze habits and like Alan have been conned on a few occasions by the old emergency story from very respectable looking people. These days I try not give money, If someone says its for food or a cup of tea I generally go and bu them something to eat or drink and come back with it. This is easier said than done though and I have been approached by some fairly aggressive and intimidating people begging for money - I often just give in and give them money to get rid of them.

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Permalink Reply by Katy Mendes on June 21, 2010 at 13:10

Surely, if they have broken into the property, it is classed as unlawful entry and they can do something about it? Or maybe they use the old line of "we gained access lawfully via an unlocked window" blah blah yada yada.

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Permalink Reply by Alison P on June 21, 2010 at 13:15

They came to our door too Anette. I didn't see them though.

I'm a bit suspicious too, there was a case a few months ago where some people were caught smashing a window of what they clearly thought was an empty house a few doors away (in fact it wasn't empty). No idea if this is connected, but is obviously a worry.

I've also noticed the increase of people begging on Green Lanes, though there are only two people I see most weeks (both men, one near Cafe Lemon, the other near the betting shops at the foot of Warham).

I don't normally give to people who are begging, but I do sometimes. I accept that sometimes this might mean I'm being scammed. Somehow that feels better than ignoring someone who seems really desperate.

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Permalink Reply by Anette on June 21, 2010 at 13:27

They looked like they were from the more Mediterranean side of Eastern Europe. Albania? Or maybe Romania? It's really hard to say. The man looked 30-ish, medium height, slim. The woman had a scarf over her head, and the baby was very young, not even a year I'd say. I noticed a buggy for the baby parked behind my fence. The "poor me" effect is obviously better when the baby is being held by it's mother, not quite the same in a buggy now, is it? I'll definitely recognise the bloke if I see him again, he had quite a distinctive face, square-ish with quite big lips and narrow eyes. Did that help anyone..?

If they are indeed local, and they've gained entry to a house illegally, why the hell can't the police go in? Sod squatters rights! I don't understand how they can demand we respect their rights when they clearly do not give a toss about ours!
Someone did indeed brake a window of a house a few doors up the road about 6 months ago. I think they were potential squatters looking for a place, and that particular house looks like it's derelict, so they probably thought they'd try their luck. I wonder if that's the same lot that's now in Falkland Rd? Matt, how long have they been there, do you know? I'd be happy to see if I can identify them, then the police can have them for begging. That might work? I was thinking about taking a picture of them, but didn't quite have the balls to.