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“Human trafficking”“Organized groups” – Bern warns against beggars from Eastern Europe
During the Christmas season there are more beggars in the cities. This year there are more bands from Eastern Europe in the city of Bern.
Many of them belong to organized begging gangs. (icon image)
20 minutes/Philip Salzmann
The city of Bern therefore asks not to give money to Eastern European beggars. (icon image)
20min/Michael Scherrer
There are currently more beggars from Eastern Europe in the city of Bern. This is common in the run-up to Christmas, as the city of Bern writes in a press release. The beggars they are smuggled into Switzerland mainly by gangs with a strict hierarchical structure. The money these individuals receive ultimately benefits their gang.
“The fight against human trafficking is a declared political objective. Organized gang begging is one form of this and that is why we are taking action,” says Reto Nause, Director of Security of the City of Bern. The Directorate for Security, Environment and Energy therefore urges the population not to give money to the beggars of the ‘Eastern Europe.
Blankets in prams to inspire pity
In the city of Bern he begs generally not prohibited. The immigration police, who carry out regular checks, checked a total of 16 foreigners begging over the weekend. These people met, talked to each other and eventually positioned themselves in different parts of the city. They also filled the prams with blankets to arouse the sympathy of passers-by. The emergency services have taken measures under the immigration law for six people.
