One former homeless man, Andy, who was on the streets for a year, said he believed begging exacerbated the problem.
“I hate to say it, but I think probably about 50% are fake homeless,” he explained.
“They are technically still homeless, but they choose to be homeless [to beg]. They can go back home if they want to.”
However, Katie, who PCSO Hart recently helped off the streets and into supported accommodation, said she disagreed with the officer’s stance on giving money to beggars.
“People need to earn money when they’re homeless. They’ve got nothing,” she said.
“What are they meant to do? I’ve done it myself.”
But Katie said despite not agreeing with him on this issue, she still thought PCSO Hart was “brilliant”.
She said he had visited her and her partner Paul every morning “to make sure we’re all right”.
“I don’t like coppers, but Steve is different,” she said.
“He actually listens to us. He’s just a nice person.”