BEGGING is among York's most enduring and controversial problems. It is easy to understand why so many beggars are attracted to our wealthy city with its thriving tourist trade. Visitors who saunter through the streets are an easy target.

Residents, too, are routinely asked for money. Some say no. Others are intimidated into giving money. Yet more are touched by the plight of the young man or woman huddled under a filthy blanket in a shop doorway, tooting on a tin whistle.

As York's city centre police commander, Inspector Tim Madgwick is well placed to comment on begging. Today he backed a Government advertising campaign designed to discourage people from giving money to beggars. Many of those asking for money will spend it on drugs, he said. Some can make as much £100 a day from passers-by.

Clearly if no one gave to beggars, they would stop begging. But such a detached approach cannot succeed entirely, seeking as it does to deny human compassion. Neither would it address the needs of the genuinely homeless.

And the Government's well-meaning campaign is, in fact, a misuse of public funds. In essence, ministers are spending our money telling us how to spend our money. Whether anyone makes a donation to an individual or a charity is a matter for them. Thanks to the knowledgeable views of those such as Inspector Madgwick, we can make an informed decision.

Often people give money to beggars because it is a simple, direct way to help. If it were as easy to make a donation to a homeless charity, they would be more inclined to do so.

The Government should spend the money earmarked for its advertising campaign on grants to local charities. They would use the cash to establish city centre outlets where people could make over-the-counter donations. Such outlets could double up as information points for homeless people.

This is a far more positive approach to the problem than the Government's "just say no" message.