Number of rough sleepers in London rises by a quarter in just one year

The number of rough sleepers in the capital grew by a quarter in 12 months, new Government figures show.

There were 940 people sleeping on London’s streets in autumn last year in a rise of 27 per cent on last year, according to the latest official snapshot survey.

Nationwide the figure has grown even faster, by 30 per cent, with an estimated 3,569 rough sleepers in England.

It comes as homelessness charity St Mungo’s urged the Government to take action to tackle a mental health crisis in homelessness.

It found around 40 per cent of rough sleepers have mental health problems.

Chief executive Howard Sinclair said: “Few would disagree that it’s nothing short of a scandal that people with mental health problems are sleeping rough.

“Not only that, but this incredibly vulnerable group are more likely to remain in dangerous and unhealthy situations for longer.”

The official figures, published by the Department for Communities and Local Government, also show the number of rough sleepers has more than doubled in five years.

In Westminster, an estimate of 265 rough sleepers was recorded in autumn 2015, giving the affluent London borough the highest count in England.

A Government spokesman said it would look "carefully" at the recommendations of the St Mungo's report.

“We are absolutely committed to helping those who are sleeping on the streets get a roof over their heads," he added.

"Sleeping rough is rarely the result of a personal housing crisis alone and we know the most entrenched rough sleepers have complex needs, including mental health difficulties or addiction, that result in poor life chances.

“We have responded to the Mental Health Taskforce’s report by investing another £1 billion a year helping one million people with mental illness access new high quality services."