Denmark’s national rail company is urging train passengers to donate money to the homeless by SMS text message rather than handing cash directly to beggars. DSB believes begging on trains and platforms, which has become particularly prevalent in the country in recent years, could be eradicated if passengers take a more responsible approach to charity.
Anders Petersen, a commuter spokesman for Hillerød and Klampenborg, welcomed the idea, adding that he feels it is not appropriate to leave the police to deal with the problem. “It would be a waste of time for the police and resources for society in general,” Petersen told Jyllands-Posten. “Begging is an annoyance, to be sure, but people are not being assaulted.”
DSB sales director Niklas Marschall explained that any money donated by text message would go to homeless people who really need help rather than those with the most aggressive begging techniques. “And hopefully, that will also put an end to customers giving the money directly to the beggars,” he told the newspaper. “They will keep begging in the trains as long as it pays to do so.”
Marschall predicted an increase in begging as summer arrives, adding that those asking for money can usually be split into two groups. “The one group consists of people who have fallen on hard times and need a little help to get through the day,” Marschall told Jyllands-Posten. “But the second group is of a more professional character. They are more aggressive and they are the ones that really irritate the customers,” he said.