IT was encouraging to see the news that businesses, community groups and law enforcement are joining forces to combat the problem of aggressive begging in Worcester.

In 2019, no one should be in the position where they have to consider begging, so it is good that groups like Maggs Day Centre, St Paul's Hostel and the Worcester BID are coming together to help those in need.

It is important, too that we address the misconceptions about homelessness, begging and aggressive begging.

Not everyone on the streets is homeless, not every homeless person is a beggar, and not every beggar is an aggressive beggar.

Yes, the majority of beggars do so because it is their way of accessing money for drugs, but not all of these people are in the stereotypical view of gangs who come into the city in nice cars, get out and do some begging, then go home.

It was staggering to read just how many beggars do so to fund their drug habits.

READ MORE: Crackdown on aggressive begging in Worcester

According to Worcester Cares: "The overwhelming majority of people who beg on the streets do so in order to buy hard drugs, particularly crack cocaine and heroin, and super-strength alcoholic beers and ciders."

In a police crackdown in Birmingham on begging in autumn 2013, every single one of the 40 people arrested failed a drug test.

We need to look at these people and address what we can do at a much earlier stage to help those people before their addictions spiral out of control.

It is a similar issue with foodbank usage.

The fact is, once someone is on the streets begging to buy drugs, the boat has been missed.

They should have been given help at a much earlier stage to help them with their problems before getting into that mess.

Jonathan Sutton, CEO of St Paul's, was right when he advised the public to be smarter in their giving.

Giving money to beggars can keep them locked in that vicious cycle of begging, buying drugs or alcohol, and begging some more.

Our homeless services in Worcester perform a vital job, helping those who cannot help themselves, and it is encouraging to see them working together to combat aggressive begging, but we could, and should do much more earlier in the process.