SO beggars can be choosers. A survey by police officers found that none of those begging in York city centre was homeless.

They were on the street not through necessity but out of choice. In effect they are "professional" beggars who believe they have a right to other people's hard-earned money.

That is not to suggest that begging is an enjoyable lifestyle. Nothing saps self-esteem faster. Most are driven to beg to feed a drugs habit; some suffer from mental illness.

But there is help out there for these problems.

What the police survey confirmed is that virtually all those asking for handouts are not in urgent need of food, money or shelter. The money they extract - sometimes quite aggressively - from residents and tourists is spent on drugs or alcohol.

If anyone needed a reason to resist giving money to them, this survey provides it.

Today Safer York Partnership launched the Begging Be Gone initiative. Posters will urge people not to give to beggars. Everyone who wants to help will be directed to donation boxes around the city with all money going to homeless centres.

This project ties in with plans to audition buskers so those with a tin whistle and no talent are silenced. We may be a step closer to a beggar-free York.

Updated: 09:34 Monday, December 06, 2004