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Dominic Lipinski

Begging clampdown urged ahead of royal wedding

Simon Dudley, the leader of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, wrote to the local police chief.

THE LEADER OF the local authority covering Windsor Castle has called for police action against “aggressive begging” ahead of Prince Harry’s wedding there in May.

Simon Dudley, the leader of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, wrote to the local police chief to warn that the beggars’ possessions, sometimes left unattended on the streets, presented a security risk.

Harry is due to marry American actress Meghan Markle on 19 May at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle, one of the residences of his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II.

In a letter published on the local authority’s website, Dudley said:

I write to set out my concerns regarding the policing response to anti-social behaviour, including aggressive begging and intimidation in Windsor.

He said that “bags and detritus that those begging are accumulating and leaving on our pavements, at times unattended” presented a security risk, and had raised concern among residents, businesses and visitors.

Obviously, the level of tourist interest is set to multiply with the royal wedding in May 2018, and there are increased concerns from our residents about their safety.

Dudley said that council powers to address the issue would “take considerable time, extending well beyond the royal wedding”, and urged the police to act instead.

Prince Harry wedding Council leader Simon Dudley PA Wire / PA Images PA Wire / PA Images / PA Images

“I request that you give immediate attention to the issues facing Windsor, and ensure all necessary financial and human resources necessary to protect our local residents, businesses and visitors,” he wrote.

Dudley said the council had “invested heavily” in support services for vulnerable people, including those who are homeless, citing several measures including an emergency shelter open every night of the year.

But he said that an outreach programme sparked by recent cold winter weather had revealed that many of those begging “are not in fact homeless, and if they are homeless they are choosing to reject all support services to beg on the streets of Windsor”.

“This is creating a concerning and hostile atmosphere for our residents and the seven million tourists who come to Windsor each year,” he continued.

The letter was dated 2 January and addressed to Anthony Stansfeld, the police and crime commissioner for Thames Valley Police.

Harry, 33, announced his engagement to the 36-year-old Markle in November.

- © AFP 2018 

Read: Donald Trump: ‘When Steve Bannon was fired, he not only lost his job, he lost his mind’>

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    Mute Bill Clay
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    Jan 9th 2019, 4:43 PM

    And as they stand solemnly, quietly in reflection over the past 100 years, they raise their heads, look at each other and burst out laughing that they’re still getting away with it

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    Mute Anthony Murphy
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    Jan 9th 2019, 4:51 PM

    There still on their xmas holidays ffs

    77
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    Mute Mark Johnson
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    Jan 9th 2019, 4:49 PM

    a special joint session..like a Marijuana session ?

    41
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    Mute Irish Spider-Man
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    Jan 9th 2019, 5:26 PM

    My grandfathers last word::
    Son… it doesn’t matter who you sleep with or what drugs you take but never vote for the Blueshirts

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    Mute GerryCummins
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    Jan 9th 2019, 11:56 PM

    @Irish Spider-Man: thought it would be “”don’t forget I was in the GPO in ’16″ lol

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    Mute GerryCummins
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    Jan 9th 2019, 11:57 PM

    @Irish Spider-Man: you were also your Grandfather’s son.. furked up that family so!

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    Mute Adrian
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    Jan 9th 2019, 4:44 PM

    They could probably re-enact it too if they call a general election and we can wipe out the horrendous current shower of FF and FG idiots in 2019.

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    Mute Daniel Roche
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    Jan 9th 2019, 5:06 PM

    @Adrian: you do realize if there was election this year, either FF or FG would still be in government,what’s the point in wasting tax payers money when know the result already.

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    Mute davey boy
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    Jan 9th 2019, 5:07 PM

    @Adrian: And replace them with who? Sinn Fein…

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    Mute MickN
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    Jan 9th 2019, 5:22 PM

    @davey boy: There the usual line thrown out, decades and decades have been shared between the two and we have seen the country being bankrupt , a deplorablehousing crisis ,they have assisted banks in robbing people, put unsecured bonds ahead of the people, but sure they are grand leave them at it.
    Giving themselves pay increases while telling nurses be glad of the pitance they are on, but our gombeen nation says gimme more of that, I despair, we deserve all we get……

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    Mute Adrian
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    Jan 9th 2019, 5:30 PM

    @davey boy: and the irish parlimentary party fellas were probably saying the same thing before the 1918 general election!

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    Mute Donal Desmond
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    Jan 9th 2019, 5:57 PM

    @davey boy: Well the record of the Blueshirts/F.F. since the foundation of the free state is clearly shown today by the mess the country is in..Do you not find it ironic that the F.F. party that facilitated in the gangsterism of the banks and developers and brought this country to it knees, now keep in power the blueshirts who imposed draconian austerity measures to repay for the gangsterism of the banks and developers . Some record to be proud of there.
    .

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    Mute davey boy
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    Jan 9th 2019, 7:36 PM

    @Donal Desmond: I don’t vote for either FF or FG but there is no alternative.
    Labour abandoned their values.
    Sinn Fein are professional fence sitters.
    Greens want to tax anything with a boiler or an engine.
    SD, Just not enough of them.
    Independents. All single issues lunatics.

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    Mute Adrian
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    Jan 9th 2019, 9:29 PM

    @davey boy: i think it doesn’t need to be a case of nobody else to vote for. Thats what these idiots want you to think. If both FF and FG combined support drops to a level of say low 40′s, they cannot collude to form a gov simply because they don’t have the support, they might look for a rainbow type gov, hard to achieve anything with that, but then more options might emerge in terms of who to vote for if another election is called soon after.

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    Mute GerryCummins
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    Jan 9th 2019, 11:54 PM

    @Donal Desmond: anyone using “Blueshirts, Posh boy, Neo Liberal, FFG” etc, must have only woken up yesterday…. its the default for anyone who can’t reason… buzz words, that identify the user of those words as someone who hasn’t lived long enough to experience life! And no I’m not an apologist for any politician or Party..I’m “A” political…..

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    Mute Lobert Rester
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    Jan 9th 2019, 5:14 PM

    Never have so many done so little for people they are supposed to represent. An utter waste of money! Over paid, underperforming parasites.

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    Mute Bill Clay
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    Jan 9th 2019, 5:22 PM

    @Lobert Rester: the sad reality being that most of them would be re-elected if an election was called

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    Mute Danny G
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    Jan 9th 2019, 5:03 PM

    It’s an awful pity that Marty McFly and Doc Brown didn’t do a trip back to 09011919 to warn them boys of their future successors!! They could have filled the car with poitín or cowshite to get it back to 1985 if they were stuck!

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    Mute John Mc Donagh
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    Jan 9th 2019, 5:07 PM

    Some of our perfect patriots claim to be their natural successors!

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    Mute Nigel o'Neill
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    Jan 9th 2019, 5:18 PM

    Different age, same government

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    Mute paul jones
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    Jan 9th 2019, 6:00 PM

    Talk about a bubble

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