You could be killing with kindness if you give to people begging on the capital's streets.
Since 2003, Thames Reach has been urging well-meaning people that giving spare change to people who beg could help them to buy the drugs that kill them.
Contrary to popular perception, most people who beg are not homeless, and are using the money they receive to fuel a drug or alcohol addiction.
This campaign message has been taken up by both Westminster and Camden councils. In April 2006 Westminster placed 1000 posters in London Underground carriages, bearing the campaign image of a dead body made up of spare change. These urged the public to give to homelessness charities rather than to people begging on the street.
The link between begging and drugs
Westminster Council surveys show that 86 per cent of people begging spend the cash they receive on drugs and alcohol. Seven out of ten beggars arrested in Westminster in 2005 tested positive for Class A drugs.
In the experience of frontline workers, people are more likely to accept help and to address their addictions when they are not receiving money from begging.
Thames Reach Chief Executive Jeremy Swain said: "The frontline homelessness charities are in no doubt that money contributed by caring members of the public to people begging is, invariably, spent on heroin and crack cocaine, causing ill health, misery and sometimes death.
"Please give us the opportunity of transforming lives by putting money into services instead of into the pockets of the dealers."
The myth of homelessness
There is a popular perception that people begging are also sleeping rough, but in fact only 40 per cent of those arrested for begging in Westminster last year claimed to be homeless.
Those who do need accommodation and assistance can access it free of charge through services such as Thames Reach's London Street Rescue.
You can still help
Rather than giving money to people on the streets, the Killing with Kindness campaign urges people to give their spare change to homelessness charities. All money donated to Thames Reach goes directly towards helping homeless and vulnerable people.
See analysis by Thames Reach Chief Executive Jeremy Swain challenging some of popular misconceptions people have about begging in the capital.
