Amber Rudd congratulates Mansfield on it Purple Flag status - but said more needs to be done

Amber Rudd who visited Mansfield on Thursday, October 26, met with MP Ben Bradley to discuss homelessness and antisocial behaviour in the district.

Mr Bradley has previously spoke to charities about tackling homelessness in the area.

In the private meeting held in the Civic Centre on Chesterfield Road South, Mansfield, Ms Rudd and Mr Bradley met with representatives from the Pub Watch, Bid, FFB, Four Seasons, 2020 and Police to help tackle the issues.

Mr Bradley said: “People should feel safe going into the town centre and we need to do more to make sure people do feel safer.

“My staff have witnessed first hand some of the issues in the town centre, with various incidents happening outside my office on Church Street.”

Ms Rudd has commended Mansfield on its progress in these areas but also said more can be done.

She said: “At the meeting I have been seeing what we can do to support the district.

“The number of homeless people in Mansfield officially is very low, how ever is higher.

“More needs to be done, there are instances of good practice across the county.

“We spoke at the meeting about some of the challenging areas in terms of homelessness, anti-social behaviour and in terms of some people who are difficult to get of drugs.

“We have come up with some plans and thoughts about where Mansfield can turn and where Mr Bradley can lead in terms of his strategy.”

Mr Bradley has said he appreciates the interest Ms Rudd is showing Mansfield.

He said: “I think it is important that we raise our issues directly with government, to try and flag up what we can do on a local level, so it’s great to be able to have that discussion directly with Ms Rudd.”

“She has offered us various avenues in terms of best practice from other parts of the country and things we can go away and find out about and it’s great to actually have a minister here taking an interest in Mansfield because it hasn’t happened in a long time.”

While at her visit Ms Rudd visited Mansfield Police Station on Great Central Road, Mansfield.

Speaking about the increase in police recruitment at Nottinghamshire Police Ms Rudd said: “It will defiantly play an important part in security.”