Police pledge to reclaim Norwich city centre site as warnings to beggars hits 100

Two direction to leave notices have been issued in Norwich city centre over the weekend as part of a police crackdown on street begging and anti-social behaviour. Picture: Archant Library Archant 2017

Police have pledged to reclaim Norwich’s Haymarket area from aggressive street begging and anti-social behaviour as they ramp up a crackdown during the summer holidays.

Share Email this article to a friend To send a link to this page you must be logged in.

Officers have been out in force as part of Operation Wormington and so far more than 100 warnings have been issued to persistent street beggars.

Street drinking, prostitution and anti-social behaviour is also being targeted, as one Norfolk Constabulary officer admitted: “We have people who are afraid to go into the Haymarket area because they don’t know what they’ll find or how they will be treated, and that’s something we need to remedy.”

Over Saturday and Sunday two notices to leave the city, known as Section 35 directions to leave, were issued.

Police can use the notices to eject people from the inner ring road for up to 48 hours. Those who ignore, or breach, the notice can face arrest.

The warnings do not apply between 7.30pm and 9pm, which allows people who need it to use soup kitchens in the city.

The previous weekend 10 notices were issued and sergeant Mark Shepherd has said the difference could, in part, be put down to this weekend’s changeable weather.

MORE: Public vote for police to crackdown on aggressive beggars in Norwich

He said: “We can assure the public that we are continuing this push throughout the summer holidays, targeting the anti-social behaviour that can happen in the city centre.”

He said the notices could be triggered by behaviour including street drinking, prostitution and aggressive begging and that feedback so far from businesses and members of the public had been positive.

Aggressive street begging has become a police priority, after a Safer Neighbourhood Team vote saw 40pc of respondents in east Norwich identify it as an issue.

MORE: Police issue 10 notices to leave the city in street begging crackdown

To date, Operation Wormington has seen more than 100 warnings issued to persistent street beggars.

Sgt Shepherd continued: “We want people to feel that they can have their children running free and we want to remind people that it is a nice part of the city.”

In addition, three warning letters were also issued over behaviour in Haymarket.

• Do you have a story for us? Email lauren.cope@archant.co.uk