Do not give beggers money, says Big Issue founder

THE founder of The Big Issue magazine, sold by homeless people in Britain and Ireland, has said people who give beggars money are only making their problems worse.

John Bird, previously a beggar for 20 years, called for the enforcement of laws to allow the removal of people sleeping rough on the streets. He also called on the British government to provide better accommodation for vagrants.

“I have never met a healthy beggar who was healthy a year later. By our gifts, we give them a reason to be on the street rather than in an environment where they could be helped,” Mr Bird said.