French Interior Ministry has banned the presence of beggars and homeless people, the holidays, shopping areas and near tourist attractions, writes The Guardian, in the electronic edition.
In the context of the French economy is in crisis and the prospect of a new recession, poor and homeless people are becoming more visible in the shops and the entrances to metro stations. Humanitarian organizations have called for measures to overcome the lack of housing crisis, but President Nicolas Sarkozy responded with a campaign against beggars, writes The Guardian newspaper.

French Interior Minister, Claude Guéant, issued a series of ordinances providing for the prohibition of begging and commercial areas near tourist attractions.
Gueant amendment argue that the arrest or beggars is essential to facilitate tourism.

Begging was prohibited for about one year on the Champs Elysées, but now the ban includes perimeter near Galeries Lafayette, Printemps stores, the Louvre Museum and Tuileries Gardens.

Critics say the measures are part of Sarkozy's campaign against Roma, and Claude Guéant emphasize a point that the orders are part of the "merciless fight" against "crimes committed by Romanian".