The Christchurch City Council is considering options, including a bylaw, to address aggressive begging – with fears it is out of control in some areas.

Auckland and Wellington city councils have bylaws in place that prohibit anti-social behaviour associated with aggressive begging.

The owner of a gift shop in Woolston, Rose, said businesses had had enough of aggressive beggars.

“I’ve been here 27 years and the last two years have been shocking – we’ve got homelessness, we’ve got people harassing people for money, it’s just unbelievable… and they can be pretty scary for elderly people and they go up to people in their cars and everything it’s just not on,” she said.

She said she had even had beggars come into her shop and approach customers.

Rose would support a bylaw banning aggressive begging – saying stronger enforcement was long overdue.

“There’s no authority that’s the trouble. These people are not answerable to the likes of us when we tell them to move on.”

A council report said the mayor was seeking advice from staff for options on what could be done.