BEGGARS from Eastern Europe have started to appear in Ludlow.

However, it is claimed that they may not really homeless but arrive in the town by car and leave at the end of the day.

Furthermore, Andy Boddington, who represents Ludlow on Shropshire Council, believes that they may be being ‘managed’ and give some of the money they take to their controllers.

He says that police have told him that similar operations are on-going in other towns.

But while Councillor Boddington is advising people not to give them money he urges people to be considerate because they are potentially vulnerable and being exploited.

“In recent weeks, Eastern Europeans have appeared on Ludlow’s streets,” he said.

“They are said to be Romanian and sit on Church Street and Tower Street. They beg with empty coffee cups.

“These beggars are not homeless in a conventional sense. They are clean and have no baggage or sleeping bag. They arrive and depart Ludlow by car. But the people involved could still be vulnerable.

“From what I know so far, this is begging as a form of work, not as a way of coping with homelessness. West Mercia Police tell me there are similar begging operations in their area.”

Andy Boddington says that begging is an offence but he is not calling for heavy-handed action from the police.

“The people involved may nevertheless be vulnerable,” added Cllr Boddington.

“They may have ‘managers’ that control their begging and take most of the income. They may have fallen though the widening gaps in the benefits system.

“It has been an offence to beg in a public place for nearly 200 years, under the Vagrancy Act. In 2003, Home Secretary David Blunkett made begging a recordable offence by the police.

"I have never been comfortable with treating begging as a criminal offence. I have no doubt that some beggars spend their days on the streets as an easy way of earning income. Some will be exploitative not vulnerable.

“But in Ludlow, we mostly witness genuine homelessness, often men struggling after leaving the army.”

The councillor also says that many people begging on the streets of the town will have problems such as mental health problems or addiction to alcohol or drugs.

“Most people begging on Ludlow’s streets will have mental health problems,” he cautioned.

“Drugs and alcohol addiction will be commonplace.

“Many will be sleeping rough. Some will be passing through on a restless journey without a destination. At least a few will be the hidden homeless, sofa-surfing or staying with friends. They will be struggling to get or hold down a job.”

But he believes that the people from Eastern Europe may be different and some of them may not be in genuine need.

“I would urge people to treat our visitors kindly,” added Cllr Boddington.

“It is a personal choice whether to donate money but in this instance, I would advise against it.”