Norway lifts ban on begging

Oil-rich Norway has abolished a more than 100-year-old vagrancy law, making it legal to beg for money in the streets.

In adopting the resolution late yesterday, Parliament said begging was a relatively small problem and that the old law was virtually never enforced.

The Nordic country of 4.6 million people is rich on offshore oil production that makes it the world’s third-largest exporter after Saudi Arabia and Russia. It has also been deemed the best country in the world to live in for five straight years by the UN Development Programme.

However, beggars, usually drug or other substance abusers, are often seen sitting on sidewalks appealing for money in Norway’s largest cities.

“Begging should be decriminalised because those who beg are often in difficult life situations,” the resolution said.

The head of the Oslo city council, Erling Lae, said he understood that the antiquated law from 1900 had to be changed, but that it could become more difficult for police to stop aggressive begging.

“It doesn’t bother me if someone sits there with a cup next to them and begs,” he said on the TV-2 television network.

“But what we see in Oslo is now is a more organised form of begging, which is more aggressive, and forces weaker groups out.”

The Parliament also noted a growing number of professional beggars in Oslo, and said some may be forced to beg by organised criminals. In those case, the beggars would be protected under laws against human trafficking.

The resolution said the roots of begging, especially poverty, must be addressed.

“Social welfare policies, rather than criminal policies, should be used to meet the challenges associated with begging,” it said.

Beggars who are legal residents of Norway qualify for welfare benefits, however for many their monthly allotment does not cover their expenses.