YORK police have moved to clear their streets of beggars they say are plaguing tourists and denting their city's image.

Officers claim many of those begging want extra cash to fund a drug habit.

They are facing complaints both about the rising number of beggars and about increasingly intimidating behaviour shown by some of them.

Yesterday, plain-clothes officers hit the streets to identify, and if necessary arrest, people found begging.

Sergeant Shaun Thompson said about 15 people regularly beg within the city walls - about three times as many as this time last year - because it is such a lucrative area.

He said complaints had intensified as visitors and residents were asked for money at cash machines, outside pubs and clubs and as they walked around the city centre, and caf owners had reported that people were being put off from sitting outside.

Sergeant Thompson said: "We have had complaints that beggars are hassling tourists for money.

"A large number of the beggars are on drugs and the money they take is for drug use.

"There are a couple of homeless shelters in York and the vast majority are staying there, although I spoke to one last week who was from Barnsley.

"It was obviously worth his train fare over here. Some beggars have a lot of money on them when we stop them."

One of four officers patrolling the city centre yesterday said: "There was an incident where a woman took pity on two girls who were begging and took them to a pub and bought them a drink, and they stole her purse - that's the kind of mentality that we are dealing with. People are better off subscribing to a charity in the city."

She said: "Ninety per cent of the money these people are given goes straight into drugs.

"A majority of people who give money do not think it will be put into drugs. Many of the beggars have addresses and social security numbers.

"But that money doesn't cover the amount they spend on drugs. We are asking people to think about where their cash is going next time they are asked to give money."

Anyone caught asking for money on the street now faces the same fate - arrest and charge - as police strive to clear the streets of beggars.

"We can sometimes reveal a considerable sum of money when we search a beggar we have arrested," said the officer added.

"We have had complaints from everyone within the spectrum about this. That's why we are taking action."

Officers are targeting those who ask for money, whether verbally or using signs, but not buskers who perform in the street or legitimate street traders.

Sergeant Thompson said beggars who have a drug habit were offered help through an arrest referral scheme.

Inspector Andy Everett, city centre inspector, said: "This is a rolling, pro-active programme. If the problems remain there will be an ongoing operation to concentrate on it."

A spokeswoman for national homelessness charity Shelter said today: "Telling people not to give money to beggars is not the solution. It can force them to turn to crime as a way of finding money.

"Rather than criminalising those beggars on the streets, the police should work with homeless agencies to try and help homeless people off the streets and into houses and work."

Updated: 11:00 Wednesday, January 30, 2002