Very interesting Giles.
Not much as changed, people still flock to London or other big cities only to end up worse off. I have been approached by young lads and girls, when I was living New York, who were on the game or needed money for drugs they used to beg aggressively, I was scared that the begging would turn to mugging. I was shocked at first then it became the new normal.
Sometimes, I would be chatted up by creepy, elderly fairies,I have even had wads of cash flashed at me.
A lot of the inner cities are the same; and you only see the pleasant side if you have good connections or decent money.