Stourbridge shop doorways cleared in crack down on begging

Police officers and staff from Dudley Council met this morning for a walkabout in the town centre to offer help to those genuinely homeless and to clear away the piles of items that have been mounting in empty shop doorways over the last few months.

Local councillors have been deluged with complaints from members of the public about the state of the High Street and what’s been described as “aggressive” begging in the town centre.

The High Street and shop doorways pictured in early April (Image: Newsquest)

Councillor Cat Eccles said she’s had reports of shoppers being harassed on the streets and councillor Steve Clark said there have been instances of people being followed to cash points by beggars that have been plaguing the town.

Inspector Adam Austin (Image: West Midlands Police)

Inspector Adam Austin said: “The issue of begging and homeless people has come to the fore in Stourbridge more recently but Sergeant Steve Crowe has really grabbed the issue and worked with partners to try and sort this out.”

Talking to the News after a morning walk through the town in which sleeping bags and other items were cleared from doorways by the council’s street cleaning team, he described the familiar sight of late of people sleeping rough in town subways as “intimidating” and he said: “It’s not something we should have to put up with.”

Police talk t rough sleepers in one of the town's underpasses (Image: West Midlands Police)

He said one of the “persistent beggars” was recently arrested on suspicion of harassment and that a public space protection order may be put in place to help put a stop to the problem longer term.

Meanwhile he urged members of the public to report any instances of aggressive begging and harassment to police by calling 101, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Stourbridge councillor Cat Eccles said she was “really pleased” to see the doorstep items cleared away and as the clean-up was underway a passing motorist shouted a message of thanks out of the window.

Council workers clear away items from the doorstep of the old Pizza Express restaurant in Stourbridge High Street (Image: Bev Holder/Newsquest)

Cllr Eccles said: “It’s been the hot topic in Stourbridge for the last few weeks.

“We’ve always had some homeless people in the town but it’s untenable when people are being harassed in the streets and business owners saying customers aren’t going to come into town.

“We just want everyone to be safe and have some pride in the town.”

The now cleared doorstep outside the old Pizza Express restaurant in Stourbridge High Street (Image: Bev Holder/Newsquest)

The doorstep to the old Soda Lounge/Chicago's bar has been cleared of sleeping bags (Image: Bev Holder/Newsquest)

Stourbridge MP Suzanne Webb praised the police for taking action and said: “I would like to thank the local police for their quick response to the increasing problem of begging in Stourbridge.

“Residents had been very concerned about what they saw happening and there were reports of harassment and unpleasant behaviour.

“I wrote to the local commander who got his officers on the case.

“This is good news for shoppers and retailers who told me they felt unsafe going about their daily business.

“I will continue to keep an eye on the situation and I won’t hesitate to highlight any further issues to the police on behalf of local people.

“Rough sleeping is a complicated issue that requires care and compassion to ensure the most vulnerable are looked after. But I’m afraid this was not the case in Stourbridge town centre and action was quite rightly taken.”

The items cleared from doorways will be retained for seven days so those who wish to collect them can do so.