THE City of Perth is sitting on a new report on how to deal with ‘offensive’ begging and anti-social behaviour at Perth train station and other beggar trouble spots in the city, says Attorney-General Michael Mischin.

While the report languishes with the council, businesses near the station this week pleaded for authorities to quickly solve the escalating problem of beggar behaviour.

A spokeswoman for Mr Mischin said the report was handed to the City of Perth late last year to “seek approval for its release”.

“The Government is yet to receive a response to this request,” she said.

The report stemmed from an initial meeting in August 2014 involving Mr Mischin, Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi and Police Minister Liza Harvey “to discuss offensive begging”.

Shop owners and managers told The Sunday Times how beggars had spat on and verbally abused staff, had frequent turf wars over begging spots, and intimidated staff, shoppers and passers-by. Beggars also urinated and defecated in front of their stores, they said.

The businesses said they were frustrated authorities seemed “powerless” to take action because begging was legal in WA and police move-on notices were “useless”.

“You call CityWatch (City of Perth’s CCTV program), the cops come, move them on, and they come back a couple of hours later. It’s just a vicious cycle,” one business said.

While some shops want an increased presence of council rangers, others called for a law change to clamp down on unruly beggar activity.

The Lucky Charm newsagency owner George Georgiou said “something has to be done”.

“It’s not getting better, it’s getting worse,” Mr Georgiou said.

“It’s just going to be a matter of time before it escalates to violence against the general public.”

On Friday, Ms Scaffidi said “questions in reference to when any report or findings will be released is a matter for the Office of the Attorney-General”.

But after the Attorney-General confirmed the report was with the council, the Lord Mayor said yesterday: “The city is considering the report and will liaise further with committee partners in due course.”

Salvation Army spokesman Warren Palmer said the charity was working with the council and other agencies “to try to find a solution”.