§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been charged with begging in London in each of the past five years.
§ Mr. John Patten[holding answer 27 October 1988]: The readily available information, which relates to prosecutions for begging in the Metropolitan police district, is given in the following table:
Metropolitan Police District Year Total proceeded against 1983 916 1984 498 1985 289 1986 333 1987 416