A SCHEME urging people not to give cash to beggars was relaunched yesterday by Oxford City Council.

First launched in 2012, the Killing with Kindness campaign reminds people that giving money to beggars can unnecessarily sustain their life on the streets.

The campaign has been supported by homelessness charities including Oxford Homeless Pathways, St Mungo’s Broadway, the Porch Steppin’ Stone Foundation and the Big Issue Foundation.

The council funds a range of homelessness services with about £1.4 million and said it was committed to continuing this.

It is urging people to donate to the Oxford Homeless Medical Fund at justgiving.com/ohmf to maintain the services and keep people off the streets.

In March it was estimated that 43 people were sleeping rough and this followed a November count on one night featuring 26 people.

Mike Rowley, city council executive board member for housing, said: “Giving money to people who beg keeps them on the street.

“Please instead give your money to the city’s brilliant homelessness charities, which help rough sleepers and other people without a secure home to rebuild their lives.”

Lesley Dewhurst, chief executive of Oxford Homeless Pathways, said: “We support this campaign as we are trying to encourage people who are street homeless to access services that are available to them, rather than to find ways of sustaining themselves in a life sleeping rough.”

The relaunch of the Killing with Kindness campaign follows the council approving a public spaces protection order in October, which banned aggressive begging.