UPDATE: The truth behind Britain First's 'hypocritical' Mansfield video

The Chad has visited the Eastern European couple living in a tent, and what we found makes the Britain First video look even sillier.
Jayda confronts Wieslaew, the boyfriend of a woman filmed to be locked in a tent. She was actually locked in for safety after he was attacked by a youth a few days and the couple fear hate attacks. (Source: YouTube)Jayda confronts Wieslaew, the boyfriend of a woman filmed to be locked in a tent. She was actually locked in for safety after he was attacked by a youth a few days and the couple fear hate attacks. (Source: YouTube)
Jayda confronts Wieslaew, the boyfriend of a woman filmed to be locked in a tent. She was actually locked in for safety after he was attacked by a youth a few days and the couple fear hate attacks. (Source: YouTube)

The right-wing party campaigning for the UK to leave the European Union released a video a few days ago purporting to show why Britain must vote out on June 23, as a homeless camp discovered in the town proved how 'migrants' are 'destroying' Britain.

In the video, deputy leader of the group Jayda Fransen accused the occupants, a Latvian and Polish couple, 'caught up in the migrant crisis', of 'taking advantage', and telling them 'you can't just pitch up anywhere'.

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Far from economic migrants or refugees, however, the rough sleepers who the party questioned and accused of 'taking advantage' as they pitched up near the railway station, say they have been living in Mansfield for years and until a few years ago were in work, with families in the local area.

Jayda Fransen, deputy leader of Britain First, said it was 'outrageous' that migrants can come here and 'take advantage' by sleeping rough because they aren't claiming benefits. (Source YouTube).Jayda Fransen, deputy leader of Britain First, said it was 'outrageous' that migrants can come here and 'take advantage' by sleeping rough because they aren't claiming benefits. (Source YouTube).
Jayda Fransen, deputy leader of Britain First, said it was 'outrageous' that migrants can come here and 'take advantage' by sleeping rough because they aren't claiming benefits. (Source YouTube).

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Faith leader Keith Hebden has spoken to the couple who were the subject of Britain First's video, and said their attack was 'profane' and 'hypocritical'. The Chad also went to ask why they haven't received housing or benefits.Faith leader Keith Hebden has spoken to the couple who were the subject of Britain First's video, and said their attack was 'profane' and 'hypocritical'. The Chad also went to ask why they haven't received housing or benefits.
Faith leader Keith Hebden has spoken to the couple who were the subject of Britain First's video, and said their attack was 'profane' and 'hypocritical'. The Chad also went to ask why they haven't received housing or benefits.

In the video, the group claims they receive an admission that police 'can't do anything due to EU rules'.

An officer says: "If they're from the EU community they're allowed to come in."

"This is my point," said Jayda.

Jayda Fransen, deputy leader of Britain First, said it was 'outrageous' that migrants can come here and 'take advantage' by sleeping rough because they aren't claiming benefits. (Source YouTube).Jayda Fransen, deputy leader of Britain First, said it was 'outrageous' that migrants can come here and 'take advantage' by sleeping rough because they aren't claiming benefits. (Source YouTube).
Jayda Fransen, deputy leader of Britain First, said it was 'outrageous' that migrants can come here and 'take advantage' by sleeping rough because they aren't claiming benefits. (Source YouTube).
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The group claimed on their Facebook that the discovery was of an 'illegal migrant camp'. Both Latvia is in the EU and Latvian people are free to travel to the UK, so there is no way they can be illegal migrants. The land on which the tent is pitched is also believed to be private land, so it is not a criminal matter and eviction would be at the discretion of the landowner.

The video also shows that the female occupant, named as Avia, had been locked inside, and when her boyfriend re-appears at the scene they chase him to demand answers.

"You locked your girlfriend in a tent?" says Jayda. "Why have you come to this country and pitched up illegally? You don't just come to this country and pitch up wherever you like and lock your girlfriend in a tent."

Actually, after speaking to the man and his girlfriend, local Reverend Keith Hebden said Avia asked to be locked in the tent for security.

Faith leader Keith Hebden has spoken to the couple who were the subject of Britain First's video, and said their attack was 'profane' and 'hypocritical'. The Chad also went to ask why they haven't received housing or benefits.Faith leader Keith Hebden has spoken to the couple who were the subject of Britain First's video, and said their attack was 'profane' and 'hypocritical'. The Chad also went to ask why they haven't received housing or benefits.
Faith leader Keith Hebden has spoken to the couple who were the subject of Britain First's video, and said their attack was 'profane' and 'hypocritical'. The Chad also went to ask why they haven't received housing or benefits.
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Keith Hebden, who went to visit the pair to make sure they were safe, said: "The man has been living here since 2010 and the woman isn't well, he's been looking after her. She asked to be locked in because she was afraid after he was assaulted by a 14-year-old in town last week. She felt safer that way, but I advised them that if a spark went on the tent it would go up in seconds so they mustn't lock it from the outside.

"I was concerned there may be a trafficking issue but I'm confident from her manner that she trusted him and she's free to come and go."

Initially the group claim in the video that 'when you have open borders people can take advantage and this (homeless people living in a tent) is what happens'.

But the reverend at St Marks Church told the Chad the couple aren't in receipt of any benefits, so they are not benefitting at all from being in the UK, other than making use of our generous local volunteer-led food banks and soup kitchens.

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He said: "They're not in work so they can't apply for any benefits or housing. You can go to the jobcentre for so long, but they're in a catch-22 situation.

Revd Hebden has described the video as 'evil', 'profane' and said that 'Britain First are not welcome in Mansfield'.

He said: "The woman in the tent isn't taking anything from this the state, she wouldn't be living in a tent if she was, so to go up to her and verbally attack her and then act like she's trying to save her is just rank hypocrisy.

"It's profane. They call themselves a Christian organisation but what they're doing is evil and they're not welcome in Mansfield."

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The Chad also went to visit the couple. We found out that Avia and her boyfriend Wieslaew have been living on the street for at least two years.

Wieslaew, who is Polish moved to the UK from the United States in 2010, said he was living with his girlfriend until two years ago and after he left with their son, he became homeless.

He said: "I came in 2010. Avia came also with her boyfriend and we met in Mansfield four years ago.

"It's because our situation is very difficult that we're homeless. It started two years ago. I had been working, I had a family, I had a house, a car. And my girlfriend went on a vacation with my son and never came back.

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"Avia was living with her boyfriend and this other guy was giving her some kind of controlled substance and he was manipulating her life."

He said he last spoke to the council last week and is trying to get on the homefinder register.

Nottinghamshire Police, part of the homeless support network, said they have visited the couple to better understand their circumstances

A spokesperson said: “Nottinghamshire Police can confirm they are aware of social media activity relating to the Britain First group which appeared online over the weekend.

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“Officers visited a man and woman on Saturday 18 June following concerns being raised for their welfare and we have spoken with the pair at length to help to better understand their living situation.

“Officers have also referred the pair for additional support through the local Homelessness Support Group in order to help find a long-term solution to their housing situation.”