PEOPLE have been asked to help Dudley Council conduct its annual rough sleepers estimate tonight (Wednesday).

The local authority is required to report the number of rough sleepers in the borough to the Government.

To help make the estimate as accurate as possible, council bosses have urged members of the public to let them know if they spot a rough sleeper tonight or in the early hours of tomorrow morning (Thursday).

For the purposes of the Government estimate, people can only be recorded as rough sleepers if they are sleeping in the open air, such as on the street, or in tents, doorways, parks or bus shelters.

They must be bedded down or about to bed down in buildings or other places not designed for habitation - including stairwells, sheds, car parks or cars.

Councillor Laura Taylor, Dudley's cabinet member for housing, said: “It’s really important that we are able to send figures to the Government for rough sleepers that are as accurate as possible.

“Not only that, it will enable us to go out and try to help them. Residents who are out and about during the night can really help us with that.

“You do not have to approach the rough sleeper – just report sightings to us and we will follow up any information that is provided to us.

“We will visit the site to see if we can help anyone that has been identified and we will offer help and assistance, whether they meet the Government definition or not.”

Reports of rough sleepers, which must include a description of the person and their location, can be emailed to joanne.forbes@dudley.gov.uk.

Alternatively, call 01384 815081.