Street population

Street population work primarily involves developing and implementing a strategy to address the reduction and prevention of rough sleeping within the borough in line with national targets and strategy.

In addition to a need for secure housing, many of those sleeping rough, or at risk of sleeping rough due to a street based lifestyle (in particular street drinkers and street-based sex workers), have additional needs around substance misuse, chaotic lifestyles and physical and mental ill health.

The street population co-ordinator is responsible for developing and supporting a partnership approach, involving the voluntary sector, the police, the council and other statutory agencies, that offers a co-ordinated route away from the streets and ensures the development of, and access to, appropriate services and treatment for those most in need.

Begging

Lambeth Council and the Metropolitan Police Service's Lambeth's Borough Command Team recognize that despite the police regularly using their powers under the Vagrancy Act 1824 enforcement alone is not working. New ideas need to be developed to tackle not just the beggars but the causes of begging.

To that end through the Street Population programme we have invested in publicity to increase public awareness, to discourage the public from giving directly to beggars and to divert donations to recognised charities.

Our aim: To create a cleaner and safer environment for the general public across Lambeth by taking effective action to reduce begging, thereby helping to reduce the local drugs market.

Our objective: Through an effective partnership with the Metropolitan Police Service, St Mungo's and other stakeholders we aim to:

• Reduce begging around cash points and at high profile locations
• Undertake proactive interventions against those persons deemed to be prolific beggars
• Work with housing providers to discourage people from begging within Lambeth
• Discourage the public from giving to beggars
• To reduce the number of street based drug users in Lambeth
• Make sure that support and treatment is available to those beggars who are prepared to accept help and change their lifestyle

If you would like to make change, please visit intelligentgiving.com to make a donation that can help those begging.

For further information contact Lambeth's Street Population coordinator on 0207 926 2735.