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Britain’s busy roads are increasingly being targeted by professional beggar gangs who ‘work in shifts’ to besiege drivers and fleece them of their cash, MailOnline can reveal.
Gangs of ‘aggressive’ money hunters have been seen roaming packed junctions and traffic light interchanges as they knock on drivers’ windows and hassle them for cash.
Groups of beggars are already operating in Manchester and in central London, ‘intimidating’ motorists, leaving some fearing for their safety.
Scroungers have also been seen waiting for motorists at red lights in Walsall, West Midlands, working at a notorious interchange near the town’s historic Victorian Arboretum.
The problem has become so rife in the town that locals have come to dub the highway ‘Beggars’ Junction’.
In Manchester, gangs of beggars were seen this week targeting drivers at busy junctions in Princess Parkway and Regents Road.
When MailOnline visited Princess Parkway, a man in a wheelchair was among the panhandlers – suspected to be part of a professional gang – looking to get motorists to hand over their cash.
Every time the traffic stopped, he would wheel down the line of cars pleading for cash, with a large number of motorists putting money into his cup.
Begging gangs are increasingly targeting busy junctions across Britain, targeting drivers stopped at red lights (pictured is a man begging in Manchester)
A man in a wheelchair is seen accepting cash from one driver in Manchester earlier this week
Professional begging gangs are also reportedly operating in Walsall, West Midlands (pictured is one person begging at a junction in the town on November 21)
He stayed for about 90 minutes before heading off. At which point, we witnessed another beggar coming onto the scene almost immediately – seemingly to take over as the disabled man left.
The male dumped his bag on the central reservation and approached cars stopped at the traffic lights.
He managed to target between eight and 12 cars at a time before the traffic lights changed as he swaggered up and down the central reservation to try to entice motorists to give him money.
After almost two hours, the scrounger left having not had as much success with drivers as the man in the wheelchair.
In nearby Regents Road, MailOnline saw another hoodie-wearing beggar – aged in his mid-twenties – walking up and down the middle of the road aggressively shaking his cup at motorists. Most ignored him, but some gave him cash, during his hour-long stint in the road.
Motorists parked at the Asda in Princess Parkway described how the aggressive begging was leaving them fearful for their safety.
Sarah Sharpe, 45, a pharmacist, said: ‘I find it intimidating when they knock on the window asking for money.
‘I always have my doors locked and most of the time I ignore them. Sometimes I feel as though I have no option but to give them money.
One man is seen approaching drivers in Princess Parkway, Manchester, begging for cash
The male, carrying an empty cup, was seen walking up to cars stopped at a red light this week
The man appeared to be successful with some drivers seen to give him money
‘I just like to get through the traffic lights without being pestered. It’s not nice when someone is stood at the side of your car.’
Jonathan Wright, 30, said: ‘It does make me uncomfortable when sat at the lights and they just stare at you while shaking their cup.
‘If you don’t give them anything, they look at you in disgust. Most of the time, I don’t have any cash or coins with me.
‘The problem I have is that I don’t know if they are genuinely homeless or if it’s just a scam.
‘Either way, I don’t think they should be hassling people at the traffic lights.’
Nursery nurse Laura Taylor, 43, said: ‘I hate it when I’m at the traffic lights and they walk down the side of the car.
‘There are a few different beggars that come here. I don’t give them anything but some must do otherwise they wouldn’t keep turning up.
‘It feels more intrusive when they ask for money at the side of your car.’
Elena Martin, 50, a lecturer, refuses to give cash to the beggars. She said: ‘I sympathise with anyone who is homeless but I don’t like to be pestered for money.
Locals in Manchester say they have been left concerned at the number of people begging on roads in the city (pictured is a beggar in Princess Parkway, Manchester, earlier this week)
In Manchester, a man was seen in a wheelchair approaching drivers in Princess Parkway
‘People begging at traffic lights has become more frequent.
‘This is a busy road with lots of cars so I suppose it’s a good spot for them.
‘Not many people walk down here so the beggars either try people while they are in their cars or sit outside Asda or one of the other stores on here (the industrial park).
‘I’m guessing they have more luck with motorists than shoppers. I don’t give to them.’
In central London, ‘aggressive’ beggars are blighting one of the city’s busiest junctions, approaching cars, stopping tourists outside railway stations and allegedly stealing from local shops.
Motorists across the country are being bothered gangs of beggars approaching them at traffic lights, including around Elephant and Castle in south London.
Beggars were seen accosting tourists and locals walking towards the busy underground station. One of the beggars was even spotted urinating against the wall in broad daylight.
It’s unclear if the scroungers were part of a professional gang.
However, local traders say that groups of cash-demanders have previously ambushed drivers stuck at red lights – as well as causing mayhem by shoplifting.
A beggar is seen approaching a woman in Elephant and Castle, in central London
The busy junction at Elephant and Castle is reportedly a hot spot for beggars, who target motorist stuck in traffic
When MailOnline visited the area, one beggar was seen urinating against the wall
Other beggars were spotted approaching people outside the Elephant and Castle Tube station
Barista Samuel Thomas told MailOnline: ‘They’re crazy, they come in here and steal from us at anytime of the day.
‘Most of them are really aggressive, the ones that are calm we give them food, but the others they just take whatever they want.’
Payal Thaki works at G Cafe, right in front of one of the junction’s traffic lights.
She said: ‘Sometimes I see them, they know when the traffic signals turn so they’ll stay in the road until then.’
Locals say begging has been a problem in the area for years, but bothering drivers seems to be a new occurrence.
Alasdair Campbell has been living in the area for 25 years. He said: ‘There have always been beggars. I’ve seen the police take beggars away and they just come back.
‘There’s one man, he always goes up to cars and bangs on the windows. It’s aggressive begging that’s the problem.’
Sol Taylor drives to work at nearby Foxton Estate Agents. He said: ‘There has been begging around here for years. It doesn’t really affect me but it does make you feel bad.’
One father, who asked not to be named, said he was considering moving.
He said: ‘They’ll just approach people on the roundabout and knock on windows. It’s pretty desperate. It’s making me not want to live round here, it used to be great but I’ve got a kid to think about now.’
Alasdair Campbell has been living in the area for 25 years and said beggars were always an issue
Payal Thaki works at G Cafe, right in front of one of the junction’s traffic lights and often sees beggars in the road accosting motorists stuck in traffic
Locals say begging has been a regular issue but groups of people targeting motorists stuck in traffic appears to be a new development
Pictured is the Elephant and Castle Tube station close to a reported begging hotspot
Another local, Amin Mimoh, said: ‘I see the same guy all the time at the station, he begs and he puts his hands up to the passing cars, then he walks up to the off licence and buys vodka. Then he comes back and starts begging again.’
Muhammad Khan at Jazz News said: ‘They’re drug addicts. Sometimes we see them bothering people in the lanes, also in front of the station.
‘We tell them to go away, one time they threw something into our shop so we called the police, but they come back. I think it’s something organised, but I’m not sure.’
Elephant and Castle junction has undergone major changes in recent years, with a landmark shopping centre closing in 2020 to make way for major redevelopment of the area.
Station worker Hazen, said: ‘There’s always a geezer in the road, some of them are alright, there’s always one or two that are a bit antisocial.
‘Around the station they’re quite respectful, others they shout abuse, but that’s Elephant and Castle, it’s been like that since I was a kid.
Amin Mimoh said he often sees beggars operating in and around Elephant and Castle
Pictured is a man sleeping rough near Elephant and Castle underground station
Elephant and Castle, in central London, is reportedly become a begging hotspot
‘Around here there’s new buildings, it’s gentrified, I think soon it’ll be a lot less of a problem. When you start getting people who can afford to live in these new places, they’ll complain to the council and they’ll have to do something about it.’
In Walsall, West Midlands, beggars have been seen working ‘shift patterns’ raking in ‘thousands of pounds’ from kind-hearted motorists.
The gang take advantage of the 19 sets of traffic lights to pester commuters, particularly during the morning and evening rush hours.
The situation has become so dire it led to Conservative Councillor Gary Perry last week calling for stricter rules to be enforced to crackdown on professional beggars.
He said: ‘While some beggars are genuine, the ones stationed at this junction have been witnessed doing a shift handover.
‘They have places to live, and if any didn’t, they would be offered accommodation by the council’s street teams.
‘Businesses, traders and residents are fearing the affects of organised begging… they’re winding themselves in and out of the traffic.
Professional ‘traffic-light beggars’ are raking in thousands working shifts to prey on kind-hearted drivers at a busy junction
In Walsall, West Midlands, beggars have been seen working ‘shift patterns’ on the notorious interchange near the town’s historic Victorian Arboretum
‘We are trying through relevant laws to have a public space court order banning the individuals.’
Begging has become so rife locals have even nicknamed the road ‘Beggars’ Junction’ and say they often feel intimidated into handing over money.
One resident, who did not want to be named fearing possible reprisals, said: ‘I drive through the junction on my way to work and back again every day and these people know my face and my car.
‘I’m scared of what they might do if I refuse to pay so when they come to my window I just wind it down and hand over a few pounds.
‘I was talking to a friend about it and we call it the Beggars Junction toll booth but it’s getting out of hand.’
Another driver, calling himself Andy, said: ‘When they are standing at the lights you just hope it goes green quickly or they go to another car.
Pictured is the notorious interchange in Walsall, West Midlands, where beggars have been seen working ‘shift patterns’
Begging has become so rife locals have even nicknamed the area ‘Beggars’ Junction’. Pictured is a beggar on the road
‘I never hand over anything, I just wave them away politely but some people, particularly older drivers, must feel quite intimidated.
‘The problem is these gangs are making loads of money, probably thousands of pounds, just by knocking on drivers’ windows.’
One elderly female resident said: ‘It’s ironic that the beggars operate next to the Arboretum which dates back to the time when Oliver Twist was published.
‘The times may have changed but the tactics of begging haven’t moved on much.’
One possible solution is the enforcement of Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) which give councils powers to impose restrictions to tackle anti-social behaviour.
The council has issued several PSPOs this year but the process of securing the court orders are both time consuming and difficult to enforce.
Labour City Council leader Matt Ward said: ‘We’ve heard these kinds of comments before from previous leaders about tackling the beggars, but the problem has got worse.
‘It isn’t just at the traffic lights, it’s down the high street, in the shop doorways. People should feel safe coming into Walsall but it’s simply not happening.
‘Several PSPOs have been put in place this year, but getting one isn’t straight forward and can take up to six months to secure.
‘It’s not as straight forward as saying I want to do it now… you have to go through a process.
‘You have to outline a boundary which the individuals can operate outside of. These individuals are working outside of the boundary. It’s a very challenging issue.’
The council is appealing for the public to provide them with photographic and video evidence of begging hot-spots to secure future PSPOs.
MailOnline has approached Greater Manchester Police and the Met Police, in London, for comment.