Pop-up centres for homeless people in Brighton and Hove have already saved the lives of two rough sleepers after potentially deadly conditions were spotted.

The hubs, known as Emergency Assessment Centres, have been created at an unnamed location in the city, Sussex Police told The Argus.

The force said they had been made available for two days at a time on four occasions in the past six months.

They aim to draw people away from rough sleeping and help them address their needs.

Sussex Police officers, a mental health nurse, a court diversion nurse, a hostel’s alcohol nurse, Brighton and Hove City Council housing officers, a GP and assessors from the rough sleepers team and First Base Day Centre have been employed to work at the centres.

Following the creation of the centres 34 rough sleepers have been housed by Brighton and Hove City Council and three have been relocated to an area of local connection.

There have been three arrests – one wanted on warrant (who was also a missing person), another on warrant and a third for possession of an offensive weapon and under the Vagrancy Act.

Inspector Gareth Davies from Sussex Police said: “Working together with our partners and coordinating our services we are in a much better position to respond to the needs of this community and reduce their vulnerability.

“The concept of the centres is incredibly simple and recognises that people who live chaotic lifestyles will not always take steps to access the many different services from which they would benefit.

“Results so far are promising and we are looking at assessing the long-term effect on individuals who have accessed services this way.

“On the first occasion alone, two entrenched rough sleepers were admitted to hospital with potentially life- threatening conditions.”