Mayor Joe Anderson says his council officers will be removing tents set up by homeless people on the streets of Liverpool.
The city leader was speaking in a week where homeless man Richard Kehoe died after being found in a tent in Moira Street in the city centre.
This followed the death in January of homeless mum Aimee Teese, whose body was also found inside a tent in the Eldon Grove area of Vauxhall.
Speaking to the ECHO today, Mayor Anderson said it is now time for 'tough love' when it comes to the use of tents by the homeless in the city.
He said it will be a case of stopping people using them and instead helping them into safe shelter - including the council's dedicated rough sleeper facility Labre House.
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The Mayor said: "'This is the sensible point. I'm not afraid of making tough love decisions - and we will remove them.
"We are going to give people a warning, give them an hour to take their tent down and say, here is a place for you to sleep, we will pick you up, take you with your goods.
"So nobody needs to be in them and we will be removing them.
"We have had two people die in tents this year.
"If they close them up while they are taking drugs and no one can see if they are in trouble, they can't be helped.
"So we are going to do it, we have got to do it - it is about protecting people."
A growing number of tents have been appearing on Liverpool's streets in recent weeks in areas like Moira Street where Richard was found - as well as in places like Byrom Street.
Mayor Anderson also raised the tents issue at a homelessness conference at Liverpool Parish Church yesterday, where he said: "When Richard Kehoe or Aimee Teese die, then we have all failed.
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"If we can't see them then we can't help them - it has to be tough love now."
At the end of 2017 Liverpool Council opened its dedicated rough sleeper night shelter in conjunction with the Whitechapel Centre and made a promise that there is Always Room Inside.
Mayor Anderson said anyone seeking shelter or support will be helped at the centre - regardless of their background or circumstance.
Homeless man who died in a cold tent on the streets needed our support, not judgement
If you spot a rough sleeper on the streets you can contact the team on 0300 123 2041.
