Joe Anderson has unveiled plans to clampdown on beggars in Liverpool.
The city council leader insists that many ‘professional’ beggars venture into the city centre from other areas in a bid to collect money from passers-by.
Mayor Anderson recently took to social media to dispute claims that two people camped outside the Mount Pleasant car park were not actually homeless.
He revealed that Merseyside Police and homeless charity the Whitechapel Centre will form part of a council taskforce which will be tackling begging in the city.
“Those two people in tents who are begging at Mount Pleasant Car Park, we know that they both have houses through a housing association.” he told the Liverpool Echo.
“We also know there are people who are coming from outside the city, even outside the city region to beg here and it is a real issue
“I am saying enough is enough and we need to do something about this.
“That is why we are going to work with all the different agencies involved to step up our work in this area.
“We try as much as we can to support people who really need it and we do have beds available that aren’t being used.”