TRADERS in Belfast city centre have come in for criticism after they distributed leaflets urging members of the public not to give "beggars" and "on-street drinkers" money.
The leaflet was handed out in the Castle street area. It also calls on people to report on-street drinking or anti-social behaviour to the PSNI.
The Simon Community, which helps homeless people, last night said it was "disappointed" by the development.
Castle street is close to a homeless shelter and vulnerable people, some with alcohol and other problems, regularly frequent the district.
The leaflet was produced by the Castle street Traders association with the support of Belfast City Management and Belfast Chamber of Trade and Commerce.
In the document traders reveal that they recently attended a meeting hosted by lord mayor of Belfast Mairtin O Muilleoir.
The leaflet said: "The businesses of the area would kindly ask everyone who uses the area to refrain from giving beggars and on-street drinkers money" and "report issues of on-street drinking or anti social behaviour to the police."
The letter goes on to say that the authors support the PSNI and other agencies who help people with alcohol and "other associated issues".
Nuala Dalcz from the Simon Community said "we are disappointed to learn that individuals in the Castle street area, some of whom suffer from the impact of alcoholism are being labelled as anti-social and as beggars".
"We understand the concerns of traders in the area and would en-courage them to contact us on our freephone helpline 0800 171 2222 if and when they see a person in need." Republican Network for Unity election candidate Tommy Doherty said he was "angered, shocked and disgusted" by the leaflet .
"The statement which refers to homelessness as 'anti-social behaviour' represents an appalling way of thinking, which fails to recognise the problems of living rough and alcoholism in Belfast and beyond," he said.
"The people responsible have set out to demonise the vulnerable, while doing nothing to address the nature of the problem."
However, Mr O Muilleoir said how traders deal with the issue is a matter for them.
"In the past I have given money to people on the street who are not behaving illegally and I certainly would expect everyone to make up their own mind about whether they would or wouldn't do so - that is their own decision to make," he said.
"My record on regeneration, on poverty and on the homeless is well-known... How traders and the chamber of commerce wish to tackle these issues is a matter for them in conjunction with the wider community."
No-one from Castle street Traders association, Belfast City Management or Belfast Chamber of Trade and Commerce was available for comment.