Police have warned shoppers against giving money to beggars in the Twickenham area amid reports they are part of organised crime and exploitation.

The beggars, who are most often women, carry signs stating 'I'm Hungry, Please Help Me, God Bless You', or 'Please Help Me, I Am Homeless and Live on the Streets'.

A sweep of streets by Police Community Support Officers has resulted in the seizure of a number of signs.

The police suggest those involved in the begging may be victims of exploitation by organised criminal gangs. They are calling on people who want to support the homeless to donate to charities supporting these groups, rather than giving the money to beggars.

There have been two tweets from police to reinforce the message. One from the Tudor police team, which works out of Kingston, read: 'Please do not give money to beggars, it is part of organised crime and exploitation. If you would like to donate, please do so by donating to a reputable charity.'

This was supported by the St Margarets police team, which tweeted: 'This goes for those in Twickenham @MPSTwickenham @MPSWhitton. These beggars are part of an organised gang and dropped off to an area every day.'

The Met Police's South West Boroughs Command Unit (BCU) said: 'Begging is an offence under the Vagrancy Act 1824. It can be intimidating, and this kind of anti-social behaviour is a concern in some communities.

'It is the Met's responsibility to ensure that London's streets are as safe as possible, and we will take action against those involved in associated crime and anti-social behaviour.'