'If all beggars were like Garry, they’d have my respect'

To some people, all beggars seem the same, but on Christchurch's Stanmore Rd there's a 'streety' businesses call on to handle troublemakers.

Garry Dickey has lived on and off the streets for 42 years and sometimes begs at the Richmond Village shops to help pay rent and supplement his modest low-income benefit. 

The 59-year-old knows well the aggressive and disorderly behaviour of some beggars on Stanmore Rd and tries his best to keep the peace.

“I try to help out who I can, when I can. I want to keep a good relationship with the business people and community around here,” said Dickey.

The Sideline Sports Bar owner James Mair said “it’s almost like having a community policeman”.

A memorable intervention for Dickey was in June when he retrieved a wallet stolen from a patron in the bar.

A man in his early 70s was assaulted in the bathroom by a young man who ran off with his wallet containing $80.

Dickey recognised the man and knew where he lived in the city centre.

“I just went in and snatched it back off him. He didn’t really say much.”

The grateful elderly man gave Dickey the $80 in the wallet when he returned it.

Mair wasn’t surprised Dickey managed to track the wallet down and give it back.

“If all beggars were like Garry, they’d have my respect,” Mair said.

Richmond Village businesses told The Star they have lost customers, with one business closing earlier over winter due to aggressive beggars and disorderly behaviour.

Bin Inn owner Patrick Cui closed his store at 5pm instead of 6pm due to beggars intimidating customers.

“If there’s older customers, we sometimes have to walk them to their cars,” he said.

The owner of Stanmore Road Dairy, who wanted to remain anonymous, said aggressive begging is hurting his business.

He often asks Dickey to sit outside his shop to ward off misbehaving beggars.

"He’s really nice. He never makes trouble.

"I even tell him to sit there because he sort of protects us in a sense.

"If something happens, he’ll straightaway come inside and help."

Dickey is well known by residents and shoppers in the area. Many passing cars honk a greeting to him and passersby stop for a chat.

He hopes to show not all beggars are aggressive, with many people just trying to get by.

"(Some beggars) give us a bad reputation," Dickey said.

"I just sit here and politely accept money.

"They need to learn that going up to people and (people) in their cars is not the way."

A police spokesperson said there has been a decrease in reports of aggressive begging on Stanmore Rd after increased foot patrols were introduced in July.

Business owners spoken to by The Star had differing views on whether the situation has changed.

Some say there has been less aggressive begging over the past two months, while others believe there has been no improvement.