I’ve found that since moving to London. I pass at least 8 or 9 people begging every day and I really don’t make much so I can’t reasonably give to everyone. I’ve worked on initiatives for homelessness so I’m pretty good at recognising organised begging (the kind ran by criminal organisations and traffickers) and I try to report it.

I pass a young guy on my way to work about once a week sleeping in a doorway and I tend to grab him breakfast/lunch and leave it next to him. Apart from that, I don’t give to people. I have in the past, but I’m a small woman and the prevalence of homeless people who are men and are suffering with mental illness or substance abuse makes it risky for me. I’ve been followed, harassed and threatened on multiple occasions, and well as a couple of scams where I narrowly avoided being attacked & robbed, so I tend to be earphones in, sunglasses on, look directly forward and blank anyone I don’t know who approaches me.