Western Australian police could potentially follow Melbourne's lead by seizing beggars' coins as proceeds of crime, if the City of Perth's proposed begging ban wins support.

Victoria outlawed begging in the Melbourne CBD last year and The Age reported on Thursday police officers had seized cash from beggars.

The City of Perth is currently lobbying the Barnett government to bring back an old law that would ban begging in the CBD.

The Gallop government in 2004 repealed its anti-begging laws following a recommendation from the Law Reform Commission. Begging is outlawed in Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and Queensland.

WA Police minister Liza Harvey said her department and the City of Perth had set up a working group to address the problem of begging in the city. She said it was "too early to say" if coins would be seized.