Homeless drinkers in hostel plea

Homeless alcoholics are campaigning for a "wet-house" to help keep them off the streets of Plymouth.

Drinking is banned in homeless hostels but a wet-house would enable them to drink and sleep in warmth and safety, they say.

Wet-houses are provided in other cities and Cornwall looked into the idea but abandoned plans because of the outcry.

Police in Plymouth say they could see some benefits, particularly when someone is drunk and disorderly.

'Too expensive'

Insp Peter Willingham from Devon & Cornwall Police said: "Unfortunately many of them fall within the criminal justice system and we end up arresting them or putting them through the court process.

"That is not always the answer for their issues, as many of them are alcoholics and they will just come round and round again. They need treatment."

Plymouth City Council has looked at the viability of providing wet-houses but says they would not be cost-effective.

The services which we have at present are able to meet the needs of the large majority of people who sleep in the street Matt Garrett, Plymouth City Council

It says it already has a homeless strategy and plans in place for improving accommodation for those who sleep rough.

Matt Garrett, Plymouth City Council's lead officer for rough sleepers, said: "Wet-houses are something we have looked at in the past but demand in the city isn't there.

"The services which we have at present are able to meet the needs of the large majority of people who sleep in the street.

"The problem is that whatever services you provide, there will always be one or two people who won't engage with those services.

"We are looking at our hostel provision in the city and looking at how we can change our practices slightly to allow more vulnerable groups to access the hostels that we have."