HOMELESSNESS experts have spoken out about the issue of 'professional begging' in Worcester.

Caring for Communities and People (CCP), which runs the city's night shelter, has warned that some of the people on Worcester's streets are not necessarily homeless.

CCP issued the warning in response to a Worcester News article about Black Cherry strip club handing out sleeping bags to the city's homeless.

In the report, the owner of the club cast doubt over the number of genuine rough sleepers in the city.

Ross Webber, who manages CCP's homelessness services in Worcestershire, said: "The issue is that there are people on the street begging that are not necessarily homeless.

"For some it's a way to top up their benefits. We hear stories of people that do better [begging] than being on minimum wage.

"I've heard of people pulling up in a car, getting into a doorway, making like they are homeless and begging.

"They sit there with sleeping bags around them. If someone thinks they are homeless they will be more sympathetic. I think it's plausible it's happening in Worcester."

However, Mr Webber emphasised that no one plans to become a beggar.

He said: "I don't believe anyone comes out of school and thinks 'what am I going to do with my life? I'm going to become a professional beggar'.

"I don't think anyone would aspire to that."

Mr Webber added that these people often suffer from mental health and addiction issues.

He added: "We need to talk to them and get to the bottom of why they are doing it.

"If we vilify them and say they need to leave the area or arrest them it will just move the problem elsewhere. It will still be a drain on resources."

The manager instead recommended that beggars be directed towards services that can help them, such as the drug rehabilitation charity Swanswell, or the NHS.

Speaking on behalf of Worcester City Homeless and Vulnerable People Forum, Jonathan Sutton, head of St Paul’s Hostel, said it was impossible to check the veracity of 'professional begging' reports.

However, he encouraged members of the public to inform police about any suspected 'professional begging'.

Mr Sutton added: "The giving of money to people on the street is your choice but the hard-won experience of those who work with people on the street is that money nearly always goes on hard drugs or alcohol.

"That’s why we have introduced texted donations under the Worcester Cares umbrella: to give you a way of ensuring your donation can make a difference. People can donate £2 or £5 by texting 'WORC02 £2' or 'WORC05 £5' to 700722."