Emergency weather plan activated as rough sleepers face fatal freezing conditions

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has activated the pan-London Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) to protect homeless people as temperatures are forecast to fall below 0°C tonight.  

The protocol will ensure councils and homelessness charities across London open additional emergency accommodation for people who are sleeping rough during weather conditions that could be fatal.

SWEP was active for 28 nights last winter and 1,350 people were helped off the streets.

According to the latest government figures, between July and September, outreach teams recorded 4,068 people sleeping rough in the capital. 

This is a 12 per cent increase on the total figure from the same time period the year before. 

The mayor is calling on the Government to deliver their long-promised reforms to the Private Rented Sector, including ending Section 21 evictions and to suspend the No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) condition – which puts many people with NRPF status at serious risk of destitution and homelessness.  

Mr Khan said:  “As winter approaches, Londoners once again stand ready to help the most vulnerable in our society. 

“With temperatures dropping below zero across the capital I’ve activated my Severe Weather Emergency Protocol to make sure anyone seen sleeping rough in these freezing conditions is offered a place in emergency accommodation and the support to move on to the safe, secure accommodation they need.

“For many Londoners struggling to pay soaring rents and a cost-of-living-crisis, this winter will feel longer and colder than ever. 

“We know that these factors are forcing more people onto the streets, it is imperative that ministers stop turning a blind eye to this crisis and start taking action to ensure people can afford to stay in their homes.”

(Picture: PA)