Louise Casey's comments about Neil Ansell and the Big Issue in Brighton were astonishing (Letters, August 8).

To tackle her most outrageous comment first, her declaration the Big Issue is "determined to belittle the tremendous efforts of local agencies" is simply false. She clearly hasn't spoken to any Big Issue staff or workers from other local agencies who work together with the Big Issue staff and their vendors.

I openly invite agencies throughout Brighton and Hove to comment on how they are treated by the Big Issue.

Our offices are based above the Big Issue in Brighton and our staff are all treated with courtesy, support and respect by the Big Issue staff. From what I have seen, all visiting workers to the Big Issue office are treated in the same way.

Ms Casey's comment on the number of rough sleepers in our area is also open to question. Our rough-sleeping members alone outnumber the street count she conducted. I could go on to describe the way in which rough sleepers were woken and spoken to. Very little courtesy, support or respect was shown to them, as our members have testified.

Once again, someone who is in post to serve the most vulnerable does not seem to be able to take any criticism, even if it is being made in an effort to improve the help and services we provide for those who need us most.

What a terrible shame for our rough sleepers.

-Mark Richardson, Brighton Users Group, The Big Issue Community Base, Queens Road, Brighton