TENTS removed from the city centre are being replaced by others within hours, it has been claimed.

Sussex Police and Brighton and Hove City Council have taken action to address concerns of businesses and residents near Old Steine Gardens, who have complained of antisocial behaviour coming from a steady stream of encampments.

The council’s Street Outreach Service (SOS) has attended the city centre green several times, but have found that the people inside the tents are changing frequently.

Those inside, the council says, are either not homeless or are refusing to engage with help.

Residents praised the police for “removing tents”, but, they say, the encampments return soon after authorities have left the area.

Gary Farmer, who lives and works nearby, said: “Thank you for the swift removal of the tent on Thursday.

“However the campers waited outside the YHA (Brighton Hostel) until nightfall and returned, same tent, same people, same disruption.

“Flagrant disregard for your intervention, disrespectful of the police who did a great job yesterday.

“Remove the tent please, this behaviour cannot continue and impacts on the city, please persist in making it known that this cannot continue in Old Steine Gardens or any other public park in Brighton and Hove.

“Again we should not have to feel unsafe in our city parks, open spaces should be open to the general public to enjoy without risk.”

Hundreds of rough sleepers have been given self-contained accommodation in Brighton and Hove to keep them off the streets during the coronavirus crisis.

The measures were first brought in at the end of March to ensure that people complied with lockdown rules and to stop the spread of the virus.

Now the council says 372 units have been found to house the homeless, which will run until the end of December and could cost the authority £1.5 million.

A spokesman for Brighton and Hove City Council said: “SOS have attended the site several times.

“The people in the tent change frequently and are either not homeless, for example, they have accommodation that is assessed as suitable but are choosing not to use it, or are declining to engage.

“Everyone without accommodation at the site when SOS have attended have been offered accommodation or support to access accommodation. SOS will continue outreach to the area and offer support and accommodation to those without housing.”

The spokesman responded to claims that the council had run out of the “covid” accommodation for homeless people.

He said: “Our Street Outreach Service have direct access to a number of buildings in the City for people who are rough sleeping. These have been full several times.

“When this happens SOS contacts Brighton & Hove City Council Housing Options so that Brighton and Hove City Council can offer emergency accommodation.

“We are continuing to offer anyone found rough sleeping accommodation.”