AN MP is to write to police bosses to urge them to change their policy.

It comes after The Argus yesterday revealed Sussex Police is using undercover officers to target beggars.

Brighton Pavilion MP, Caroline Lucas, said she was shocked and would be writing to the head of Brighton police to seek an end to the practise.

In yesterday’s Argus we revealed police last year arrested more than one person a week for begging in Brighton and Hove.

However, former police chief Graham Cox defended the force’s policy.

He said: “A carefully targeted prosecution policy is sometimes the only way of ensuring that the most vulnerable people receive the help they need.

“In some cases prosecution is necessary because the person begging is not actually homeless and is in effect engaging in a form of fraud on the generous public.

“In other cases there may be genuinely homeless people, sometimes with complex drink, drug and/or mental health problems, who refuse to engage with the various agencies trying to help rough sleepers.

“In these cases it is only with the coercion of the law – ie the prospect of prosecution – that some vulnerable people will accept help. “