Giving money to people on the street

I donate to charities and occasionally give a few pounds to homeless beggars. The idea there are so many frauds around seems over stated to me. The homeless beggars in our city and town centres are filthy, cold, thin and often carry their sleeping bag with them. The reports this week about the increase in deaths amongst homeless men and women confirm the increase in homelesness as a direct result of government policies. It’s shameful. We have one man living in a tent, with his dog, on the pavement outside our rail/bus terminus.

Because there are so many frauds around you're hard pushed to tell if it's a genuine homeless person or not.

I give to homeless charities and to individuals in the street. Not every time, but I gave to a homeless man last week. He was huddled in a doorway trying to keep out of the rain and had one copy of the Big Issue, as if he was selling it.

I do not always give and I have heard all the warnings, but I would rather risk giving to the occasional fraudster than not give to someone who is desperate.