AGGRESSIVE beggars will be moved on by high visibility patrols in a fresh crackdown in Colchester this week.

Those causing concerns to shoppers will be directed elsewhere in an attempt to clean up the streets while providing information about how they can get help.

It is being led by The Safer Colchester Partnership and follows complaints received by Colchester Council and Essex Police about anti-social behaviour within the town centre.

Those involved said they are determined to make the streets more attractive to visitors but insist they also want to help those who need it.

Mike Lilley, cabinet member for safer communities, said: “It is important we engage with people who need support and signpost them to services that can offer them any help and assistance they may need.

“We want to make sure that the town remains a clean, safe destination for residents, visitors and businesses alike to enjoy.”

The patrols will include zone wardens, council officers and police officers.

Insp Danielle Booth said: “We see people every day who are homeless due to personal or financial problems and our job is to work with partners to help them and get them access to support services.

“But aggressive ‘professional’ beggars can be threatening and intimidating to shoppers.

“Our work will target this anti-social behaviour and we will use all the powers available to us to stop them from harassing visitors to the town centre.”

It follows claims professional beggars were earning more than £100-a-day from kind hearted Colchester residents.

Nicola Garton, owner of the Wedding Shop, in High Street, agreed something should be done about rough sleepers but said it is important not to “demonise” anyone.

She said: “It’s very difficult when you’re trying to sell a bride their dream dress and that’s the appearance of the High Street.

“It’s very difficult because you don’t want to feel as though you have no compassion but I think the council should do more to help them.

“Between people begging and chuggers, you want to just be able to walk along the High Street without being accosted.”

However, Ewa Sak, manager at Bills Restaurant, has never experienced any problems.

She said: “We try to give coffees and teas to help them, but I do think something has to be done because there’s too many of them in the street at the moment.”