What effect did the begging bans have - debate in Aktuellt

Municipal councilor Jimmy Jansson (S) actively pushed to stop begging in his home municipality of Eskilstuna.

A permit requirement was introduced here for begging.

- We had two motives.

One was to gain social control over people who were in our city but about whom we knew nothing.

The second was to make it difficult for people to live this way.

We do not believe that this is a viable way out of poverty.

"Some have returned home"

Now there are probably fewer beggars on the streets, where do you think they have gone?

- Some have returned home to their home countries, which are the right place to get help from their poverty.

I usually say that begging is like trying to cure covid by plastering the arm.

It looks solid but it does not help, says Jimmy Jansson.

Larisa Lacatus works with various projects for EU migrants on behalf of the State Mission and believes that bans affect people who beg in an overly negative way.

- To ban begging is to try to ban poverty.

When society points the finger at those who are vulnerable, then their vulnerability becomes even greater.

What we have seen in Eskilstuna is that hate crimes against these groups have increased significantly.

It has not gotten better.

Jimmy Jansson, however, turns to that description.

- There were incidents initially when the debate was at its hottest.

But we also have representatives from this group who testify that it has become safer and calmer.

The conflicts that existed about the places that gave the most money have ceased when you have a condition in the back.

But the big question we should ask ourselves is: Can we get out of poverty in this way?

"Need to alleviate the need that exists"

Larisa Lacatus says that the issue of poverty is a complex issue that requires several different measures.

- You have to work long-term with other countries within the EU, you have to work against discrimination in your home country and contribute to development work.

But we also need to act in the short term and be here for those in need and alleviate the need that exists.

And act so that people find alternatives to begging.

See more of the debate in the player above.