Mayor of Luxembourg City Lydie Polfer today released a written response after being sent an open letter regarding begging in the City.
The original letter was written by Luxembourgish lawyer Gaston Vogel, who therein claimed that the city had "become repugnant" with anger "brewing within the population" due to the amount of people begging for money along streets in the City centre. Vogel continued by taking issue with the dogs, beer bottles, cigarette butts and "other debris" he stated accompanied this sector of the population.
Vogel added that the phenomenon was affecting Luxembourg's tourist industry, with "foreigners who tread the cobbles of this crummy town leaving disenchanted, some with feelings of anger or disgust [...] it should not be surprising that they no longer have any desire to return". He urged Luxembourg City's mayor to remember her 'primary duty' to the capital to ensure its 'safety, tranquillity and wholesomeness'.
In response, Mayor Lydie Polfer directly referenced these last three aspects, affirming that they were an absolute priority of the City and emphasising the importance of dealing with organised begging on the streets of the capital.
The Mayor stated that the "phenomenon has already been discussed many times between municipal bodies", emphasising that current law does not provide the Ville de Luxembourg with the means of action to deal with the organised begging situation, with the Grand Ducal Police not falling under its jurisdiction and courts rarely able to establish proof of the elements constituting the offense.
The Mayor continued in her written statement with two proposals with which to move forward in the matter. She first suggested that legal texts be reviewed in order to better establish effective ways to deal with begging. According to the Mayor, several meetings between the Ville de Luxembourg, the Ministry of Justice and the Grand Ducal Police have in fact already taken place with the intention of developing such concrete solutions.
A second aspect the Mayor said was important to consider was the differentiation between so-called 'organised begging' and begging by necessity, stating "it is essential to support and assist those in need". She referred to the various social services and structures which have been put in place to provide support to needy people, if they wish to accept it and respect the specific framework and rules inherent in these institutions.
Mayor Polfer summarised her written response to Gaston Vogel's allegations by concluding:
"So it seems to me that although the facts mentioned in the open letter do pose real problems, a much more nuanced approach, which respects the dignity of vulnerable people, is required."
Vogel has not as of yet responded to the statement.
Photo by Sarah Graham (Mayor of Luxembourg City, Lydie Polfer)
