ABSTRACT
Any discouragement to street hand-outs that might have been expected from the extension of National Insurance from 1921 was negated by the appeals of the war disabled, mass unemployment, the persisting stigma of the poor law and the new bogey, the means test. Begging was still very much part of street life, but prosecution statistics is of an entirely different order from before the war. Post-war conditions inspired novel begging dodges. The national insurance cards, unemployment and real or fake war disability, all provided opportunities for creative liars. Skilful begging could still bring in plump rewards. Much charitable effort was, however, being directed towards rehabilitation as well. Because of the concern about youthful vagrancy, charities were established specifically to receive young drifters and set them on the path to employment, and they formed links with official bodies, like casual wards, to receive recommended eligibles.
