Thanks @Joey_H
I have to say that in the last few weeks, outside of rush hour, I can’t remember having been on the Overground without seeing at least one person begging on every train.
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I know the guy-he used to hang out around Shorditch and became really aggressive towards myself and a group of friends when we were stood talking and he butted in and started his spiel on us-when we ignored him and didn’t give him money he really became downright abusive and arguementative.
He now travels on the overground in the evenings and yes… same spiel and he does become antagonistic when not given money-I’m a woman he did it to me.
Never noticed if he became more aggressive to females or that he’s generally a nasty bloke.
I’m sick and tired having finished a 12 hour day encountering these beggars on the train when all I want to do is get home from a long day at work
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I reported this to BTP today and they have recorded. If others feel intimated by this guy then might I suggest you complain too, I simply text 61016 and then agreed to be called.
There are two flourescent-clad “TravelSafe” officers on the Southbound Overground this evening - and not a single beggar in sight. 
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Then the answer is simple. Everyone pop a hivis jacket in your bag - cycling shops sell cheap ones. If you hear a beggar further down the train, pop on your hivis. Job done. 
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After tonight’s train meltdown, just what I wanted to see - another beggar doing the rounds on our Overground train.
When two people opposite reached for their wallets I said (out loud) “stop sponsoring this,” prompting a sharp nudge from my other half.
But I feel something had to be said. Everyone who hands over money is encouraging this illegal behaviour, which has now got totally out of hand.
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Chris
The advice on the forum is not to confront.
Text BTP on their well publicised number.
Or wait until you reach a station and press the button to report events to the driver. Most importantly, do not snipe. Remember the person being subjected to this behaviour is more a victim than you are.
You will potentially offer better protection to passengers who are more vulnerable than you by following these recommendations.
Alternatively develop a louder Scots accent (preferably Glaswegian) when you elect to confront offenders - it has a remarkably disproportionate effect. I speak from experience.
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A-la
HEH YOO JEMMEH - GET THA FOCK OOTA MA TREHN!
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Further to this, you can also email 61016@btp.pnn.police.uk (was just informed via a response to a text to 61016). That way you can include photos.
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While I do not condone aggressive begging I do feel compassion for them. I am incredibly fortunate. I have a home, a job and food in my belly every day. These guys in most cases in a lot of pain with addictions and struggling to survive. NHS support services covering mental health and addiction issues have been cut to the bone and as a result the problems manifest on the streets and on trains.
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Don’t do yourself down - I’m sure you enjoy these things because you work hard and make the right choices in life - not because of blind luck.
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Sure, but let’s be honest. Who thinks to themselves when they are kids ‘When I grow up I want to be an addict and beg on trains’ ?
It’s a consequence of a series of traumatic events in a person’s life that leads them to the point of standing in front of irritated commuters begging for the next hit. Addiction is a consequence of trauma.
Obviously it’s not ok for that aggressive male addict to intimidate people for money. Hopefully he is caught and given a consequence. I still feel sad for them when I see them beg.
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That’s a bit presumptous, Chris. How do you know? Unless you know this person and their background in RL, that is.
Sometimes people are in a good position in life purely through good luck - I count myself as one such. And actually, some bad luck in my early life that had the side effect of giving me the financial freedom to buy my own house in London when the market was down. 100% luck, both good and bad.
Some people work harder than any of us can ever imagine and make good, sound decisions at every turn and still find themselves in dire circumstances, blindsided by misfortune entirely beyond their control.
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Edited my post to begin “I’m sure”
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With respect Rachael, so is the post above. I am not sure all addiction is the result of trauma, I have known so very well off kids when I was at school who had everything but felt drugs were cool. They were not. Two died of overdoses.
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My exact point. We can’t assume to know why any other person is in the position they are, good or bad.
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With respect to the assumption rich kids from nice families don’t experience trauma I’d guess that they might have experienced relational small t trauma if all looks fine on the surface. Emotional neglect sets up people for a hard time self regulating difficult emotions and makes them prime candidates for addiction. Dr Gabor Mates book called ‘Realm of Hungry Ghosts’ explores the causes of addiction in a beautifully compassionate way. It’s a great read for anyone looking to gain insight into addiction and its causes.
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Well this shit is still on the train. Today he asked a young lady why she didn’t want to give him any money and she stuttered for a second and then politely said she’d tell him if he wanted. Suffice to say he remarked about that being the best excuse you can come up with and then started verbally attacking her for a full 20 secs before walking off calling her a fuc… bitch. She was very intimidated and almost drawn to tears.
I see these beggars every day - and they all get off at New Cross Gate - why don’t TFL do anything about it? Maybe if they hadn’t frozen their fares they’d have the money to do so. These people weren’t there for the first 5 years that the overground was open, but they’ve clearly learnt it’s a nice little earner to feed their habits. And don’t get me started on the number of people that i now see jumping the barriers or pushing through them on my ticket.
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Would suggest you edit the comments about the mayor. We don’t do politics here