‘1,500 beggars detained in first four months of 2015’

AMMAN — A total of 1,500 beggars were apprehended in the first four months of this year, 80 per cent of whom were in Amman, a Social Development Ministry official said on Sunday.

Fawaz Ratrout, the ministry’s spokesperson, said 62 per cent of vagrants removed from streets were adults, with women constituting the majority, while 38 per cent were children.

Moreover, Syrians accounted for 20 per cent, according to Ratrout.

Under the law, adult beggars detained by authorities are referred to police stations and then to court in accordance with the Penal Code, while juveniles are referred to care centres affiliated with the ministry, where they are rehabilitated.

In 2014, the ministry detained around 3,300 beggars, 25 per cent of whom were children. The majority of adult beggars were women, while 18 per cent were Syrian refugees.

The court issues rulings to transfer money seized from beggars to a special bank account for the ministry, which it uses to cover the expenses of care centres.

Meanwhile, the ministry closed 90 charitable societies in the January-April period for several violations or upon the founders’ request, and approved the registration of 205 new charities.