Tuija Brax (green), Finland's justice minister

Tuija Brax (green), Finland's justice minister, criticised working group proposals to ban organised begging, regional daily Turun Sanomat reported on Tuesday.

During the summer, the interior ministry's working group presented a preliminary report which proposed altering the Public Order Act in a way that would make organised begging illegal in public places in Finland.

According to Brax, the preliminary report leaves too many things up to individual interpretation.

Banning begging in public places could also increase begging at the door, according to Brax.

The justice ministry would like the working group to focus on intrusive begging rather than organised begging. The Public Order Act already bans aggressive begging, but Brax would like to add clarifications and tighten current legislation.

STT
Lehtikuva - Roni Rekomaa