#28

That’s the article I meant! Remember it happening as it’s not too far from where we live.

1 Like
#29

Was about to post this exact article :frowning:

1 Like
#30

I was back in the UK for a few days a couple of weekends ago, and I heard an announcement on the tube about begging. Asking beggars to leave the train, telling people not to give them money. Never heard that before.

After a couple of months in the netherlands, being reminded of how bad the rough-sleeping situation is in the UK was a stark contrast too. Cardboard City V2 can’t be far off. It’s devastating :frowning:

Edit: this was also on the circle line as @melaniesykesbike heard.

#31

Feck, missed your post! Yep, that’s it. Horrifying stuff.

#32

My dad used to be a betting shop manager for 30 years, but the whole betting machine industry depressed him and he tried to warn people not to plough all their money into the machines.

Also with him being a old school bookie where he settled all the bets in his head, William Hill made his life hell to try and get him out so they could get cheaper labour who didn’t need to be good at maths.

He ended up taking very early retirement due to ill health just to get out of it.

#33

I think the number of beggars on the actual tube trains has decreased in recent years, tbh.

There’s obviously been a big increase in homelessness, begging and begging in tube stations over the past 8 years, but since the introduction of entry barriers and shifting staff from ticket offices to being on the platforms, I’ve seen fewer beggars, and heard fewer announcements about it, on the trains themselves.

#34

Those places are like another world. I remember the first time I ever went in one (Islington High Street, to bet on West Ham Palace play off final 2004). Everyone else in there looked settled in for the day, mostly watching dog racing. They had a vending machine for tea, all sorts. I went to the counter and basically said “Err, I want to bet on a football match - what do I need to do?” and she gave me a look that said “Why are you in here”.

#35

The only times I’ve ever been into bookies have been to put a couple of quid on the Grand National, and thankfully they generally have special forms laid out for people like me who have literally no idea what they’re doing (and even then I get confused).

1 Like
#36

The people actually doing the begging have usually been press-ganged into it with threats of violence.

#37

Ugh. It really is an awful reflection of society when poverty is so high that people are coerced into forced labour as beggars

#38

It’s definitely a bigger issue on the National Rail and Overground lines, because as someone mentioned, it’s just easier to get into that network without paying.

On my train out to Croydon yesterday a bloke was going down the train with a form and a garbled line of patter about how he was doing a sponsored run to fund his attempt to become a professional boxer.

Imaginative.

#39

Never heard them myself until today and i catch the Circle Line every day.

Pretty much as above, “beggars and buskers are on board this train, do not encourage them by giving them money”

#40

"You want that each way, mate?”
“…”

1 Like
#41

Used to be fairly common a few years back in my experience, but I think most drivers have largely stopped using them.

#42

Seen that happen to many people. The big companies really are awful to work for. Sorry to hear that about your dad.

#43

Out of sight, out of mind! Right on bro! Let’s fucking push them out to the margins even further, whatever it takes to make your commute more pleasant!

#44

Yeah, which is pretty much what everyone said! Nice one.

:+1:

1 Like
#46

Hi mate, welcome to the boards - always a delight to have a brand new user to chat with - and thank you for a fantastic first contribution

1 Like
#47

I was in Victoria the other day, not cardboard city but very much tent city, awful to see.

As for betting shops they are where everyone seems to watch the football nowadays, one in Harlesden I went into was rammo at 10am on a Tuesday, every terminal had people slinging money into it before walking off shouting at pigeons.

#48

So what’s actually happening, what’s different? Anecdotally, I have noticed a huge increase in homelessness over the last three or four years, I live in a small market town where a few years ago there would be maybe one or two people at most in the high street selling the big issue, now it is like there is someone sleeping in every single shop doorway, and it doesn’t seem to be different in other towns and cities I have been to. What’s going on?