What is organised begging?
| 1. What is organised begging? |
| 2. How to spot organised begging |
| 3. Report organised begging |
| 4. If you are being exploited to beg |
| 5. Support for victims of organised begging |
Organised begging is a type of begging that's run by organised crime gangs.
The people who are begging can be vulnerable. They're often being coerced or exploited by the gang who are out to make money. They're begging because they’re being made to by the gang.
Organised begging is not the same as people begging because they have no other option, perhaps because they're homeless or rough sleeping, or they might have problems with alcohol or drugs.
People who are begging for a crime gang often have a place to live, although the crime gang might be keeping them in cramped, difficult living conditions they can't leave.
Anyone begging for an organised crime gang won't be allowed to keep any money they get. They'll be forced to hand it over to the gang, who could use the money to fund other crimes.
Who can be a victim
Organised begging can affect children as well as adults. UK citizens can be exploited as well as people from other countries.
Crime gangs try to recruit vulnerable people they target in places like food banks or shelters. Sometimes they bring in people from other countries, often promising them good jobs and decent places to live, but all of this disappears when they get to this country.
Organised begging and exploiting people for money is a type of modern slavery.
Making anyone beg like this is a crime and we want to find the people behind this crime.