Operation launched to remove prolific beggars and those causing anti-social behaviour in Hyson Green

An operation to remove prolific beggars from Hyson Green has been introduced after shoppers and residents were being targeted for money.

Officers are working with Asda supermarket and homeless charity Framework to curb the problems currently affecting the Hyson Green area.

The Radford Road Neighbourhood Policing Team have already successfully applied to the courts and obtained five Criminal Behaviour Orders.

These orders prevent offenders from begging and drinking in Hyson Green, including around the Asda supermarket.

Anyone in breach of their condition can be arrested and put before the court.  

One offender has been banned from begging across the whole of Nottinghamshire due to his constant and aggressive begging tactics. 

Officers also have five pending Criminal Behaviour Orders in the pipeline to see more prolific beggars banned from the area.

The team are also working with a number of shops encouraging them to reduce selling alcohol to beggars, which is a catalyst for anti-social behaviour.

Neighbourhood Inspector Liz Gaskin said:

“In the past, the area around Hyson Green had become a hot spot for begging and anti-social behaviour which saw us introduce a police hub in partnership with Asda. The problem seemed to decline but has started to emerge again.

“This is why when I became the new neighbourhood inspector for the area it was imperative that this matter was addressed.

“Residents and shoppers don’t want to be aggressively approached for loose change. I want Hyson Green to be an area where people feel safe to visit and that businesses thrive.

“We have had some productive meetings with Asda, Framework, the city council, and licensees about these problems to ensure we address them head on. Everyone is onboard. It is partnership working which will help solve this problem.

“What seems to happen is people will beg outside Asda, collect their loose change, go to buy alcohol and, then due to being intoxicated, cause problems such as anti-social behaviour.

“This is a small minority of people, but we need to ensure this minority don’t spoil the area for the majority.

“It is important for the public to know that we can’t just hand out Criminal Behaviour Orders.

“We must apply to the court and it is based on evidence. We must prove they have caused consistent problems. This is what we are doing for our most prolific offenders.

“We’ve had some great results recently but the work does not stop there. We will continue to target those who won’t accept help or support for their substance abuse problems or adhere to police warnings about their behaviour.

“It is important that help and support is available for people first to tackle their complex needs. However, if that fails and they are unwilling to engage then we will look to take stronger action which will see them removed from Hyson Green.”

Operation Brandberg was launched following community concerns.

There is a community engagement event at the hub in Asda car park on Saturday 14 October where members of the public can meet various partners from the community.