Stoke-on-Trent City Council's Environmental Crime Uni (ECU) and Staffordshire Police have cleared an illegal homeless camp situated on the doorway of Swan Square, Burslem.

The building has been identified as a hotspot for rough sleepers to gather and camp without receiving permission to do so.

The ECU and local police jointly issued a Community Protection Warning to the group occupying the area so that they do not return to the site, with council support offered.

Councillor Chris Robinson, cabinet member for planning and housing, said: "We are greatly appreciative of the work carried out by the ECU and Staffordshire Police. Illegal homeless encampments represent a threat to the local community and are not the correct way to tackle the profoundly serious issue of homelessness.

The group occupying the area have been offered council support (Nub News).

"It's imperative for these illegal camps to be removed and make our streets safer for residents, so we thank the ECU and Staffordshire Police for intervening to remove the encampment at Swan Square.

"We must stress that the council has support in place to appropriately help homeless people. If you need emergency help, please call 01782 233696 during office hours, or alternatively please call 01782 234234 outside of office hours. You can also call our Rough Sleepers team for free on 0800 970 2304."

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