'Safety in numbers' for rough sleepers huddled in tents and doorways

CHARITY bosses say the increasing use of rough sleepers taking shelter in tents is not an acceptable solution, while others say members of the homeless community are huddling up together for safety.

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A spokesperson for Framework said: “The risks of violence and assault mean some rough sleepers may feel safer taking shelter in numbers with other people, which can give the appearance of shelters springing up. Some will pick places to sleep in that are more visible, as they may feel safer if they are in areas with higher footfall or covered by CCTV. This is not a particularly new phenomenon.”

The spokesperson added: “However, other rough sleepers feel safer in locations where they are not generally visible - in car parks, abandoned buildings, cemeteries, building sites, waste ground, parkland, woodland or quarries, for instance.