Sorry Mr Cringe, but your argument assumes that people are able to 'just say no' or 'tell them to stop'. What about my Mum who is 80 years old and intimidated by the slightest thing? What about the young Mum who is flustered by her two children wanting sweets and cannot afford them? What about the drunk who is feeling generous but his wife and family do not know where their next meal is coming from?

Whatever you say there are 'chuggers', and yes I do use the term intentionally, who will resort to harassing vulnerable people. I have seen it and seen the results.

OK - Maybe 90% of them are reasonable folk who are just trying to make a few bob. But an unregulated assault on the general public by untrained kids is, in my mind, a menace and words like 'despise' do not begin to describe how I feel about people who prey on the weak. And it is not the charities themselves that do this. It is the people on the streets.

And as to "They don't try to frighten you". Just ask my Mum or anyone else with mental health issues if they feel scared of them before you start to feel superior.

Cheers

DtG