INTIMIDATORY BEGGING

That this House congratulates the Daily Express for exposing the conduct of Alan Grandison who earns ú18,000 a year begging in London by callously exploiting the public's sympathy for the genuinely homeless and needy; further congratulates the Express for highlighting the racket operated by Mr M., a Yugoslavian, in which so-called Bosnian beggars who have no connection with Bosnia trick the public out of up to ú2,000 per week; believes these cases reinforce the urgent need for reform of the Vagrancy Act 1824 and the introduction of the new criminal offence of intimidatory begging; and calls on the Government to support such a measure without delay.