I believe it’s less about being deliberately woke or virtue signalling, and more about people now having a more balanced view of what can be behind behaviour like this through a better awareness of mental health issues. Something which thankfully prevents them jumping to knee-jerk conclusions, especially in situations where not all the facts are known.
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I’m not sure it’s ok for members of the the public to be threatened by someone even if it is because of mental illness. The fact is that if you demand money from someone by threatening them that’s an offence. Mental illness may be a mitigating factor but it doesn’t change the impact of that person’s behaviour, it just changes what needs to be done to address that behaviour.
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No, it’s definitely not OK, and definitely not what I am saying. My comment is solely about people jumping to conclusions about the individual.
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A friend is a councillor in Redbridge and said recently that much of the aggressive begging in his area is facilitated by gangs. They find vulnerable / addicted / trafficked people and drive them into areas where they think they will be most successful at begging. The beggars have strict quotas of what they need to ‘earn’ for the gangs and are encouraged to our aggressive tactics.
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'Does anyone know if he is still there doing his thing ?
agree!
I haven’t seen him this week thank heavens!
Lets hope it stays that way.
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I have to say it’s made me nervous to walk round that area - which is a shame.
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I walk around that area every day, twice a day in the week and thank goodness haven’t seen him. Normally around 8/8.30 and 5ish. I will definitely call the police if I see him and will report back here.
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Thank you that’s helpful intel about when it might be ok. I haven’t been approached by anyone either but I vaguely remember seeing someone who might have been him now I know about him but he never approached me. Either it wasn’t him or there were other people around. Or I had a really angry look on my face!!
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A long time ago I bought one of those key fob things for when there were lots of muggings near me in Balham. That always made me feel like I was a bit mor protected. Worth thinking about as they are super cheap too.
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Now you mention it, I think I have one Of those somewhere. The last time a bloke approached me late at night in perry Vale I was so angry I lost my temper and properly shouted at him. He backed off and walked away. Not sure that’s going to work with this chap though!!
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TBH I would do exactly the same, make a huge fuss, scream and hope I’d be ok 
failing that run or if not hope I could defend myself - but I have never had to do that so I am probably quite naive and I’m sure in the moment we’d all act totally different to how we expect.
Often, though, I have two kids with me when walking. That is a really scary thought.
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like this?
or like this?
or like this?
This one exactly
Personal Alarm 130db Personal… https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B076B4CLJ4?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
It’s very loud. Pin doesn’t come out by accident but is easy to pull.
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I think the risk for me is that I’d go full on 
before considering whether it was remotely sensible. I get really angry when men approach lone women in the dark, asking for money. It’s so obviously an intimidation technique. But I think I would be better getting the alarm!
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I feel very similar; hopefully he’s moved on. I did see police patrolling the road yesterday which I forgot to mention but was only in a car so could have been something else.
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Well even a car patrol is a deterrent I would think so that is good.
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I think it was similar to the bottom one, but clearly not as good because it went off in my pocket once! Maybe is hound get a new one!