- ITV Report
Windsor council leader defends 'aggressive begging' comments
A council leader in Berkshire who was criticised for saying "aggressive begging" should be tackled in Windsor, ahead of Prince Harry's wedding in the town, has defended his comments.
Cllr Simon Dudley this morning backtracked speaking on a local radio station, saying he was referring to anti-social behaviour and not the issue of homelessness.
Charities which help the homeless have reacted angrily to claims that some people near the Queen’s residence at Windsor Castle are choosing to beg on the streets rather than accept the support available.
The accusation was made by the leader of the council in the Royal Borough which controls Windsor.
The authority leader claimed his initial comments in a letter to the local Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) were misconstrued.
At the end of last year, he Tweeted calling on Thames Valley Police to deal with "an epidemic of rough sleeping".