Rough sleepers figures questioned

Charities said the government has reduced the numbers

Government figures on the number of people sleeping rough in the whole of the West Midlands have been questioned.

It said there are 15 every night, but Paul Atkins, a volunteer supporting those in Birmingham, said he sees between 10 and 25 on an average night.

Geoff Devlin, who runs a soup kitchen in Leamington Spa, Warks, told the BBC he thinks there are between 10 and 20 sleeping rough every night in the town.

Homelessness Minister, Ian Wright MP, said government policies are working.

On one night every year teams of spotters scour towns and cities to officially record the number of people they find sleeping rough.

Scours the streets

Mr Wright said: "Does it show everybody who slept rough that particular night? I think it probably does.

"Does it show everybody who slept rough that particular week? No it probably doesn't and we need to look at it again.

"But, as I said, I'm very proud of the Government's record on homelessness and rough sleeping."

Charities said that the government has cut the number of rough sleepers.

Mr Atkins, a volunteer for Birmingham Christian Centre, scours the streets at night and hands out food, drink and bedding to those who need it.

Mr Devlin serves about 30 people every night from his van in Leamington.

He said: "They're not all rough sleepers, but many are, and most have slept rough at some stage."

The issue will be featured on the Inside Out programme in the West Midlands at 1930 GMT on Friday 29 February on BBC One.