COMPLAINTS from shops and the public has prompted police to take action against people who sit outside premises begging for money.
Officers are taking action after 40 separate calls were made from within North East Lincolnshire between October 3 and November 16.
Of the calls, 22 of those came from Cleethorpes and the rest from a number of locations across Grimsby.
Three people were arrested for begging in Victoria Street, Grimsby, on November 16. One was released without charge and the two others are expected to appear before Grimsby Magistrates' Court next month.
Acting Sgt Simon Duffield said: "The calls made to police in relation to people begging is causing us real concern and we want to let the people of North East Lincolnshire know we are proactively doing something to address these concerns.
"I would like to ask people that when you give to these people who are begging do you really know what you are giving money for?
"A lot of them claim to be homeless and need money to survive, when some of them are taking your hard-earned cash to feed a drink or drug habit.
"So you might want to think twice next time you see them in the street or outside a shop.
"Some of these people are also known to police for other criminal offences, so by telling police when you see somebody begging you could be helping us out.
"It is a criminal offence to go begging and we can't be in a number of places at once, so if you see people doing it then let us know.
"We will be targeting known locations throughout the Christmas period to help tackle offences and provide reassurance to the public.
"The police work closely with a number of agencies to ensure that people across North East Lincolnshire are not left in a homeless state.
"These people who sit begging often chose not to accept this assistance and have taken to a life of crime.
"Police are working to help reduce the number of offenders, however the calls for service we are receiving in relation to begging does seem to be increasing."
To report an offence of begging to Humberside Police, call 101.
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