Thursday, February 5, 2015

Emily Thomas — One Of The World's Richest Countries Wants To Ban Begging

Proposed by members of the right-wing government with support from an opposition party, the bill is said to be aimed at addressing the capital city of Oslo’s pickpocketing problem. According to Agence France-Presse, Oslo's pickpocket rates are reportedly as high as Berlin's, while the capital has one-seventh of the population of the German city.
Under the proposed ban, those caught begging on the street would face fines and up to three months in prison.
 
If the law passes, it will take effect in 2015 nationwide. Local municipalities will be allowed to ban begging as early as this summer. 
Some say this ban specifically targets Romanian immigrants, who make up a majority of Oslo's beggars. Out of the 194 beggars the justice ministry identified in Oslo in 2012, 187 were Romanian citizens, per AFP.
The World Post
One Of The World's Richest Countries Wants To Ban Begging
Emily Thomas

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