The homeless and the scroungers mar genteel Bournemouth's image

From: The Independent (London, England) | Date: May 15, 1994| Author: | Copyright information

STROLLERS in Bournemouth town centre used to be safe from demands for money, except from ladies in neat hats brandishing charity collecting tins. Last week, however, Marcus Moon, 25, was asking passers-by for change - "just 60p for a can of beer. It's to keep me warm when I'm sleeping on the beach."

On a bench near the pier, Lindsay, 22, roll-up in one hand and bottle of Diamond White strong cider in the other, was contemplating the lengthy stagger back to her bed-sit in the suburb of Boscombe. "But I'll drop in on my mates first for a few more drinks. I don't have to get up in the morning." ...

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