... if they sign a contract to not come back. That’s the Swiss attitude that doesn’t make you popular with neighbors.

https://www.newsweek.com/city-offers...-1588085?amp=1

Subtle!

wow

I noticed this and thought it was a joke... talk about making a problem go away

fixed that for ya..

Can someone find a Swiss article substantiating this? I can't find anything on this anywhere

A few years ago, the SP in Basel decided to adopt a different approach to begging - effectively, total tolerance.

This has ended up with Basel being a Mecca to beggars - including the organised gangs. There's a woman who has her spot by the Denner near Wettsteinplatz. Like many of the others, she's shrouded in blankets to keep out the cold, a sign saying (in English) "Please help, 2 kids to feed". I used to walk by about the same time each Saturday morning. She had a mobile phone, a packed lunch (usually hidden away, as it doesn't go with the look), and sometimes her gang members would visit her for a chat.

A few weeks ago, I saw a child of about 12 begging on Mittlerebrücke - exactly the same MO as the rest of this obvious gang.

Organised begging isn't allowed, but the police have been told not to challenge any beggar.

These people will not be accepting the offer. They're making too much money out of gullible tourists.

There is a Swiss man on IV. He has a disability which makes walking difficult. He supplements his income by begging, and while out, tends to exaggerate his disability. How do I know this? He was interviewed by TeleBasel and was quite open about it. Again his target is tourists. As a Swiss man, he won't be taking the offer.

However, I do know a few homeless people in Basel who would take the offer. They want to move on, but lack the wherewithall to do it. No one is forced to take the offer, and as it stands Basel is (in my view over) tolerant of begging.

__________________
Down with racism. Long live miscegenation!

I suspect that quite a few people who came to Basel from abroad to make some cash off tourists may have gotten caught up in the pandemics and couldn't get back home, maybe..Because of lack of funds, no tourists, borders were closed at some point, etc. Would that be a reason why the city proposed this help? How will they go about the PCR tests prior flying?

https://www.20min.ch/fr/story/un-che...s-688160601385

Homeless people is not the same thing as beggars.

Begging in the street is not allowed in several Swiss Cantons / Cities.

So, which one is it? Homeless or beggars?

Homeless people with EU nationality.

No, it really is a major problem in Basel. These are Romas who are part of a criminal human trafficking operation. I can tell you they most definitely will not be taking the offer & will instead wait for the bus from their boss to pick them up while he drops off fresh beggars.

Here's more on the subject:

https://www.srf.ch/play/tv/rundschau...5-ddddeaa6eb43

One of them grabbed my breasts at Le Train Bleu outside SBB. He came up & harassed people at their tables & then he pretended to trip and fall over his crutches right onto my chest. He was suddenly no longer crippled when the table of gentleman next to me rushed to my aid... he picked up his crutches and ran like the wind. Basel was incredibly stupid to ever allow this to happen in the first place, it is a real mess.

Not being a me to afford the ticket to be able to go home is a common pick up line among beggars .

So somebody is calling their bluff ?

How will that practically work? Will anyone make sure that they use the voucher and 20fr for what it was donated for?

I think that is here too. Even small towns, the team is discreetely distributed to not be so obvious. And on trains.

Their disctraction strategies are well known, too. I think it is a combo of cash soliciting and pick-pocketting.

Will there be official arrests and unofficial "We will let you walk away with this voucher"? I think the journal article is focusing only on a part of the strategy.

(Sorry about your breasts, Susie-Q.)

Roma organised beggars are the problem.

Basel is obviously badly governed and doesn't want to know. All it takes is a police presence at the SBB and a willingness to do something about it - ie arrests. They are now outside every supermarket too. Wasn't like this even when I came here 15 months ago. Place is covered in graffiti. Glad I don't live there. If I wanted that type of vibe I'd stay in London.

This article (paywall) is on a small travel agency called Travelpoint by the Claraplatz. The owner says that his customers are predominantly Romanians lately, they pay with coins only for the Wizzair tickets (direct flight to Bukarest, typical cost is around 60 CHF one-way including airport tax and other fees). Many are repeat customers, oftentimes with different IDs, one ID had a printed validity of 60 years, apparently something no country does. The mandatory PCR tests (costs 150) caused lots of uproar among them, but apparently they can get on in Mulhouse for around 30. He can often see the groups of beggars take orders when he arrives for work around 8am.

The train ticket offered by Basel costs 250 CHF, the journey takes 35 hours. This makes me wonder why the Roma don't take the offer, return the ticket (payback should be around 200), and use that to pay for their flight and another forged ID to pocket the difference.

Meanwhile, Basels SP (socialdemocratic party) reportedly have produced a strategic paper where they demand free overnight stays (bedding) for the Roma, and that they are allowed to keep begging. Supposedly it isn't the Roma's fault that they're a nuisance, it's up to the locals to adapt and accept the problems the Roma cause. The paper itself can be summoned up with "all it takes is more understanding from the locals and everything will be fine".

I don't think that will work, but fingers crossed.

@Sinking,
The ban should be extended to all cantons.



You do realise these IDs are fake, I hope. Which makes me wonder how on earth they can board here..if nothing else..Typical cost appears to be 214 chf last time I checked btw. This article made me very curious.

It's like any other underhand activity, it's obviously lucrative enough or they wouldn't be doing it.

Until people stop giving them money they will stay.. I saw it every morning when i was at work in Geneva .. 6am at the station they'd all gather together for a coffee and a smoke then head out to their designated spot for the day of begging.

It's a proper business and it's everywhere.. and everywhere has policies that allow it to continue and people keep on giving them money either directly or via social care.

I’ve seen it through out Switzerland since I’ve been here, especially in the French part (I get so mad when they are on the trains).

But what is going on in Basel is like something I’ve never seen before in all of Europe, it is out of control. They are taking over the city parks and are washing their laundry in the fountains with the chemicals going on the street ... they are very very aggressive. I am honestly happy I don’t live in Basel now. There is going to be some more back & forth arguing between parties before the inevitable happens & they are finally kicked out.