Official Statistics

Rough sleeping snapshot in England: autumn 2019

Published 27 February 2020

1. Main Findings

  • The number of people estimated to be sleeping rough on a single night has fallen for the second year in a row from its peak in 2017 but remains higher than 2010 when the snapshot approach was introduced.

  • There were 4,266 people estimated to be sleeping rough on a single night in autumn 2019. This is down by 411 people or 9 % from last year and down 10 % from the peak in 2017 but is up by 2,498 people or 141 % since 2010.

  • Over three quarters of local authorities in England are part of the Government’s Rough Sleeping Initiative(RSI) to end Rough Sleeping.

    • Across these 244 local authorities there were 3,863 people estimated to be sleeping rough on a single night in autumn 2019. This is down by 514 people or 12 % from last year.

    • In the 83 local authorities who have been receiving funding since 2018, there were 2,474 people estimated to be sleeping rough on a single night in autumn 2019. For these local authorities this is down by 294 people or 11 % from last year and down by 942 people or 28 % from 2017.

    • In the remaining 73 local authorities that are not part of the RSI the number of people estimated to be sleeping rough is up by 103 people or 34 % compared to last year, from 300 people in 2018 to 403 people this year.

  • The number of people estimated to be sleeping rough in London has decreased for the first time in six years and is the largest decrease since 2010. There were 1,136 people estimated to be sleeping rough in London on a single night in autumn 2019. This is down by 147 people or 11 % from last year. The South West of England was the only region where there was notable increase in the number of people sleeping rough, all other regions were broadly similar or decreased with London and the West Midlands decreasing the most.

  • The majority of people sleeping rough in England are male, aged over 26 years old and from the UK. This is similar to previous years.

Date of next publication: It is expected that autumn 2020 Rough sleeping snapshot will be published in early 2021. The date will be pre-announced on the GOV.UK publication release calendar

Figure 1: Number of people sleeping rough on a single night in England since 2010.

Figure 1

1.1 About this release

This publication provides information about the estimated number of people sleeping rough on a single night between 1 October and 31 November 2019 and some basic demographic details (i.e. age, gender, nationality). These statistics provide a way of estimating the number of people sleeping rough across England on a single night and assessing change over time.

1.2 Things you need to know

  • Local authorities across England take an autumn snapshot of people sleeping rough using either a count-based estimate of visible rough sleeping, an evidence-based estimate meeting with local agencies , or an evidence-based estimate meeting including a spotlight count in specific areas.

  • Local authorities, together with local agencies decide which approach and date to use for their snapshot of rough sleeping. They are advised to use the approach that will most accurately reflect the number of people sleeping rough in their local authority and will provide the most robust estimate.

  • The snapshot can take place on a single date chosen by the local authority between 1st October and 30th November. The date can change from one year to the next and will not be the same for all local authorities although there is some coordination to avoid double counting. This should be a ‘typical night’.

  • The snapshot takes place in the autumn, rather than Summer where numbers are likely to be higher due to warmer temperatures, or Winter, where numbers may be lower as there are more temporary night shelters set up to ensure people do not sleep rough on the streets in very cold weather.

  • The snapshot is collated by outreach workers, local charities and community groups and is independently verified by Homeless Link.

  • People sleeping rough are defined as those sleeping or about to bed down in open air locations and other places including tents and make-shift shelters.

  • The snapshot does not include people in hostels or shelters, sofa surfers or those in recreational or organised protest, squatter or traveller campsites.

  • The snapshot does not provide a definitive number of people affected by homelessness in England. The term ‘homelessness’ is much broader than people sleeping rough.

  • The snapshot records only those people seen, or thought to be, sleeping rough on a single night.

  • The snapshot does not include everyone in a local authority with a history of sleeping rough, or everyone sleeping rough in local authorities across the October to November period.

  • Accurately estimating the number of people sleeping rough within a local authority is inherently difficult given the hidden nature of rough sleeping.

  • The snapshot methodology has been in place since 2010. From 1998 to 2010 only those local authorities who estimated that there were more than ten people sleeping rough in their local authority were asked to conduct an annual street count, which was around a quarter of all local authorities.

  • Since March 2018, the Government’s RSI has funded local authorities to provide specialist services to help the most vulnerable people in society off the streets and into secure accommodation. Over three quarters of local authorities are part of the initiative. The initiative is part of the government’s ongoing Rough Sleeping Strategy to end rough sleeping by the end of the parliament.

1.3 Introduction

There are various factors that can affect the number of people who are sleeping rough on any given night, such as the availability of alternatives such as night shelters, the weather, where people choose to sleep, and the date and time chosen for the snapshot assessment. Local authorities are asked to provide possible reasons for any significant changes in the numbers of people who sleep rough compared to previous years.

The figures in this release therefore are subject to some uncertainty and should be treated as estimates of the number of people sleeping rough on a single night and an indication of trends over time.

1.4 Definitions

People sleeping rough are defined as follows:

People sleeping, about to bed down (sitting on/in or standing next to their bedding) or actually bedded down in the open air (such as on the streets, in tents, doorways, parks, bus shelters or encampments). People in buildings or other places not designed for habitation (such as stairwells, barns, sheds, car parks, cars, derelict boats, stations, or ‘bashes’ which are makeshift shelters, often comprised of cardboard boxes)

The definition does not include people in hostels or shelters, people in campsites or other sites used for recreational purposes or organised protest, squatters or travellers.

Bedded down is taken to mean either lying down or sleeping.

About to bed down includes those who are sitting in/on or near a sleeping bag or other bedding.

2. Rough sleeping snapshot

2.1 National

The number of people sleeping rough on a single night in England has fallen for the second year in a row.

The number of people sleeping rough on a single night in London has fallen for the first time in six years.

The number of people estimated to be sleeping rough on a single night has fallen for the second year in a row from its peak in 2017 but remains higher than in 2010 when the snapshot approach was introduced.

There were 4,266 people estimated to be sleeping rough on a single night in autumn 2019 in England. This was a decrease of 411 people or 9 % from 2018 and an increase of 2,498 people or 141 % increase since 2010.

For the first time in six years there has been a decrease in the number of people estimated to be sleeping rough in London and the largest decrease since 2010. There has also been a decrease in the Rest of England again, following a decrease last year for the first time since 2010.

In London, there were 1,136 people estimated to be sleeping rough in autumn 2019. This is a decrease of 147 people or 11 % from 2018 and an increase of 721 people or 174 % since 2010.

Across the Rest of England, there were 3,130 people estimated to be sleeping rough in autumn 2019. This is down by 264 people or 8 % from last year and down by 484 people or 13 % from its peak in 2017 but is an increase of 1,777 people or 131 % since 2010.

Table 2.1.1: Number of people sleeping rough in England, London and Rest of England since 2010.

Year England % change on previous year (England) London % change on previous year (London) Rest of England % change on previous year (Rest of England)
2010 1,768 - 415 - 1,353 -
2011 2,181 23 446 7 1,735 28
2012 2,309 6 557 25 1,752 1
2013 2,414 5 543 -3 1,871 7
2014 2,744 14 742 37 2,002 7
2015 3,569 30 940 27 2,629 31
2016 4,134 16 964 3 3,170 21
2017 4,751 15 1,137 18 3,614 14
2018 4,677 -2 1,283 13 3,394 -6
2019 4,266 -9 1,136 -11 3,130 -8

Figure 2.1.1: Number of people sleeping rough in London and the Rest of England since 2010.

Figure 2

2.2 Regional

Nearly half of all people sleeping rough on a single night are in London and the South East.

The South West was the only region where there was a notable increase in rough sleeping this year.

The South West was the only region to show a notable increase in the number of people estimated to be sleeping rough, where there were 490 people estimated to be sleeping rough on a single night in autumn 2019, compared to 458 last year. The largest decrease in the number of people estimated to be sleeping rough was in London, where there were 1,136 people estimated to be sleeping rough on a single night in autumn 2019, compared to 1,283 people last year. However the West Midlands, the North West and East Midlands all showed large percentage decreases in the numbers of people estimated to be sleeping rough, while Yorkshire and The Humber and the North East remained broadly similar compared to last year.

Table 2.2.1: Number of people sleeping rough by region

Area 2018 2019 Difference % Change
England 4,677 4,266 -411 -9
Rest of England 3,394 3,130 -264 -8
London 1,283 1,136 -147 -11
West Midlands 420 319 -101 -24
North West 428 349 -79 -18
East Midlands 358 305 -53 -15
South East 934 900 -34 -4
East of England 484 458 -26 -5
Yorkshire and The Humber 246 242 -4 -2
North East 66 67 1 2
South West 458 490 32 7

Figure 2.2.1: Number of people sleeping rough by region.

Figure 3

London and the South East accounted for nearly half of all the people estimated to be sleeping rough in the 2019 snapshot, which is broadly the same as last year. The North East of England is the region with the fewest people estimated to be sleeping rough on a single night in 2019.

Figure 2.2.2: Percentage of people sleeping rough by region.

Figure 4

2.3 Local Authority

Westminster has the highest number of people sleeping rough on a single night in 2019.

The largest increase in the number of people sleeping rough on single night was in Hillingdon.

The largest decrease in the number of people sleeping rough on single night was in Camden.

The local authority with the highest number of people sleeping rough on a single night in 2019 was Westminster where 333 people were estimated to be sleeping rough. Westminster has consistently been the local authority with the highest number of people sleeping rough since the snapshot approach was introduced in 2010.

The Westminster City Council: Review of Homelessness 2019 suggests that Westminster attracts a disproportionate number of rough sleepers from across the UK and internationally because of its central location and access to transport hubs, the perceived safety of the area due to its 24 hour nature, begging opportunities available due to large numbers of people in the area including tourists, a flow of easy accessible drugs, employment opportunities and availability of services for people sleeping rough. According to the local authority, the Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park also acts as a pull factor for people sleeping rough in Westminster at this time of year including many from outside the UK possibly due to the available economic opportunities.

Table 2.3.1: Local authorities with the highest number of people sleeping rough.

Local Authority 2018 2019 Difference % Change
Westminster 306 333 27 9
Hillingdon 70 106 36 51
Bristol, City of 82 98 16 20
Manchester 123 91 -32 -26
Brighton and Hove 64 88 24 38
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole 45 72 27 60
Camden 141 65 -76 -54
Newham 79 64 -15 -19
Birmingham 91 52 -39 -43
Islington 43 51 8 19

Figure 2.3.1: Local authorities with the highest number of people sleeping rough.

Figure 5

The largest increase in the number of people estimated to be sleeping rough was in Hillingdon, where there were 106 people estimated to be sleeping rough on a single night in autumn 2019, compared to 70 last year. According to the local authority this is thought to be largely due to the increase in the number of people sleeping rough at Heathrow Airport, in particular people from outside the UK.

In Windsor and Maidenhead, according to the local authority the increase in the number of people estimated to be sleeping rough is thought to be due to increased intelligence and knowledge of where people are sleeping rough in the local authority since the implementation of the RSI.

Table 2.3.2: Local authorities with the largest increase in the number of people sleeping rough

Local Authority 2018 2019 Difference % Change
Hillingdon 70 106 36 51
Windsor and Maidenhead 11 40 29 264
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole 45 72 27 60
Westminster 306 333 27 9
Brighton and Hove 64 88 24 38
Sedgemoor 3 25 22 733
Southend-on-Sea 11 32 21 191
Bristol, City of 82 98 16 20
Chichester 16 31 15 94
Northumberland 0 15 15 -

Figure 2.3.2: Local authorities with the largest increase in the number of people sleeping rough in 2019.

Figure 6

The largest decrease in the number of people sleeping rough was in Camden, where there were 65 people estimated to be sleeping rough on a single night in autumn 2019, compared to 141 last year. According to the local authority, this is thought to be largely due to the impact of the RSI funded projects and assertive outreach interventions with all people sleeping rough in Camden.

The decrease in Enfield was thought to be largely due to funding from both the RSI and Rapid Rehousing Pathway[footnote 1] (RRP) which they received for the first time this year, as well as funding from the Cold Weather Fund[footnote 2] (CWF).

Generally, the decrease in the number of people sleeping rough, according to the local authorities involved, were thought to be largely due to projects funded by MHCLG, including the RSI, as well as the RRP and the CWF.

Funding from these projects mean local authorities have been able to expand their outreach services, increase the amount of available accommodation and provide the support to keep people off the streets.

When comparing the number of people sleeping rough on a single night across years and between local authorities, there are a range of factors that should be considered. For example, the weather, where people choose to sleep, movement across local authority boundaries particularly in London, the date and time chosen, and the availability of alternatives such as night shelters.

Table 2.3.3: Local authorities with the largest decrease in the number of people sleeping rough

Local Authority 2018 2019 Difference % Change
Camden 141 65 -76 -54
Enfield 78 24 -54 -69
Birmingham 91 52 -39 -43
Manchester 123 91 -32 -26
Tameside 36 5 -31 -86
Cornwall 53 24 -29 -55
Hastings 48 21 -27 -56
City of London 67 41 -26 -39
Swale 32 10 -22 -69
Bedford 51 30 -21 -41

Figure 2.3.3: Local authorities with the largest decrease in the number of people sleeping rough.

Figure 7

3. Rough Sleeping Initiative

The number of people sleeping rough on a single night across all local authorities receiving RSI funding has decreased by 12 % since last year.

The Rough Sleeping Initiative(RSI) was launched in March 2018 and was targeted at local authorities with high numbers of people sleeping rough, based on the 2017 Rough sleeping snapshot. This included a £30m fund for 2018 to 2019 which was allocated to 83 local authorities, as well as a specialist team of Advisers made up of rough sleeping and homelessness experts drawn from local authorities and the third sector (e.g. non-profit organisations). A further £34m for 2019 to 2020 went to the original 83 local authorities and £12m went to 161 new local authorities giving a total fund of £46m across 244 local authorities. This means over three-quarters of local authorities in England are now covered by specialist RSI funding.The initiative funds local authorities to provide specialist services to help the most vulnerable people in society off the streets and into secure accommodation. The initiative is part of the government’s ongoing Rough Sleeping Strategy to end rough sleeping by the end of the parliament.

Last year we published the Rough Sleeping Initiative 2018: impact evaluation which found the number of people sleeping rough was 32 % lower than what it would have been had the RSI not been in place in those local authorities. The analysis also found that local authorities that had changed their approach to measure rough sleeping did not account for the fall in rough sleeping seen in those local authorities.The analysis also found that the weather on the night of, and leading up to, the annual snapshot, did not have any impact on the number of people sleeping rough. This suggests local authorities are following guidance to include individuals, who take up emergency accommodation as part of Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP), in the Rough sleeping snapshot.

Across all 244 local authorities receiving RSI funding, there were 3,863 people estimated to be sleeping rough on a single night in autumn 2019. This is down by 514 people or 12 % from last year.

Local authorities receiving funding since 2018

In the 83 local authorities who have been receiving funding since 2018[footnote 3], there were 2,474 people estimated to be sleeping rough on a single night in autumn 2019. This is down by 294 people or 11 % from last year and down by 942 people or 28 % from 2017.

Across these 83 RSI local authorities, 53 (64 %) of local authorities reported a decrease, 28 (34 %) reported an increase, and 2 (2 %) reported no change in the number of people sleeping rough since last year.

As stated earlier, Camden reported the largest decrease of 76 people sleeping rough or 54 %, from 141 in 2018 to 65 people in 2019, which according to the local authority is thought to be largely due to RSI funded projects and assertive outreach activity.

Hillingdon reported the largest increase of 36 people or 51 %, sleeping rough from 70 in 2018 to 106 this year. The local authority suggests that this is largely due to increasing numbers of people sleeping rough at Heathrow Airport, in particular people from outside the UK.

Local authorities receiving funding from 2019

In the new 161 RSI local authorities who have been receiving funding since 2019[footnote 4] there were 1,389 people estimated to be sleeping rough on a single night in autumn 2019. This is down by 220 people or 14 % from last year.

Across these 161 RSI local authorities, 81 (50 %) of local authorities reported a decrease, 63 (39 %) reported an increase, and 17 (11 %) reported no change in the number of people sleeping rough since last year.

Enfield reported the largest decrease of 54 people, or 69 %, from 78 in 2018 to 24 in 2019. The local authority suggests that this is largely due to funding from both the RSI and RRP which they received for the first time this year, as well as funding from the CWF and the GLA winter programme fund.

Windsor and Maidenhead reported the largest increase of 29 people, or 264 % from 11 in 2018 to 40 in 2019. The local authority suggests that this is largely due to increased intelligence and knowledge of where people are sleeping rough in the local authority since the implementation of the RSI.

Non-RSI local authorities

There were an estimated 403 people sleeping rough across the other 73 local authorities in England which are not part of the RSI, an increase of 103 people or 34 % from 2018 last year.

Across these 73 local authorities not part of the RSI, 20 (27 %) of local authorities reported a decrease, 38 (52 %) reported an increase, and 15 (21 %) reported no change in the number of people sleeping rough since last year.

Sedgemoor, in the South West reported the largest increase of 22 people in the non-RSI local authorities, from 3 in 2018 to 25 this year. The local authority suggests this is due to a loss of hostel accommodation access for people without a local connection in neighbouring local authorities and increased enforcement activity in nearby town centres.

Table 3.1 The number of people sleeping rough in RSI local authorities compared to local authorities not part of the initiative.

Type of area No. of areas 2017 Snapshot 2018 Snapshot 2019 Snapshot Difference from one year ago Difference from two years ago % Change from one year ago % Change from two years ago
No Funding 73 288 300 403 103 115 34 40
RSI funding from 2018 83 3,416 2,768 2,474 -294 -942 -11 -28
RSI funding from 2019 161 1,047 1,609 1,389 -220 342 -14 33
(RSI combined) 244 4,463 4,377 3,863 -514 -600 -12 -13
All Local Authorities 317 4,751 4,677 4,266 -411 -485 -9 -10

Figure 3.1: The number of people sleeping rough in RSI local authorities compared to local authorities not part of the initiative.

Figure 8

4. Demographics

Since 2016, the Rough sleeping snapshot has also included some basic demographic information about those people found sleeping rough, including gender, age and nationality. Consistent demographic data which used the same categories is available from 2017 onwards[footnote 5].

Demographic information is collected by asking the person found sleeping rough or completed based on existing knowledge if that person is known. If a person refuses to give their personal information, they can still be recorded as sleeping rough, and demographic information including gender, age and nationality can be recorded. If it is not possible to record this basic demographic information, then it is recorded as ‘Not known’.

4.1 Age

The majority of people sleeping rough on a single night are aged over 26 years old.

The majority of people sleeping rough on a single night in 2019 are aged over 26 years old, which is similar to previous years. There were 6 people under the age of 18 found sleeping rough in this year’s snapshot. Under 18s who are homeless will usually be provided with accommodation by Children’s Services by their local authority.

In 2019, there were 3,542 people (83 % of the total) sleeping rough on a single night who were aged 26 years or over and 201 people (5 % of the total) who were aged between 18 and 25 years. The age of people sleeping rough was ‘Not known’ for 517 people, or 12 % of the total.

Table 4.1.1: Age of people sleeping rough.

Year Under 18 18 - 25 Over 26 Not Known Total
2017 3 366 3,846 536 4,751
2018 1 295 3,744 637 4,677
2019 6 201 3,542 517 4,266

Figure 4.1.1: Age of people sleeping rough in England.

Figure 9

The age breakdown of people sleeping rough was broadly similar across regions in England with the exception of London and the North East. In London, age is ‘Not known’ for 22 % of people sleeping rough which according to the relevant local authorities is largely due to people sleeping in tents and not engaging. The North East also has a high percentage of ‘Not known’ compared to other regions which according to the relevant local authorities was due to a group who remained under their bedding and did not engage. However, the North East has the fewest people sleeping rough compared to other regions, so this needs to be taken into account when interpreting the breakdowns by age given the large number of ‘Not known’ responses.

Table 4.1.2: Percentage of people sleeping rough by age and region.

Area Under 18 18 - 25 Over 26 Not Known
England 0.1 5 83 12
Rest of England 0.2 5 86 8
London 0.0 3 75 22
South East 0.1 6 88 6
South West 0.4 3 87 10
East of England 0.2 5 83 12
North West 0.3 9 82 9
West Midlands 0.0 4 89 7
East Midlands 0.0 5 88 8
Yorkshire and The Humber 0.0 6 85 10
North East 1.5 4 78 16

4.2 Gender

The majority of people sleeping rough on a single night are male.

The majority of people sleeping rough are male. In 2019, there were 3,534 men (83 % of the total) and 614 women (14 %) sleeping rough. Gender was ‘Not known’ for 118 people (3 %). This is broadly the same as previous years. The gender breakdown of people sleeping rough was similar across regions in England with the exception of the North East. The North East has a high percentage of ‘Not known’ compared to other regions which according to the relevant local authorities was due to a group who remained under their bedding and did not engage. The North East has the fewest people sleeping rough compared to other regions, so this needs to be taken into account when interpreting the breakdowns by gender given the large number of ‘Not known’ responses.

Table 4.2.1: Gender of people sleeping rough.

Year Male Female Not Known Total
2017 3,965 653 133 4,751
2018 3,937 642 98 4,677
2019 3,534 614 118 4,266

Figure 4.2.1: Gender of people sleeping rough on a single night in England.

Figure 10

Table 4.2.2: Percentage of people sleeping rough by gender and region.

Area Male Female Not Known
England 83 14 3
Rest of England 83 15 2
London 83 13 4
South East 83 16 1
South West 83 14 3
East of England 82 16 2
North West 80 15 5
West Midlands 80 17 3
East Midlands 84 14 3
Yorkshire and The Humber 90 9 0
North East 79 6 15

4.3 Nationality

The majority of people sleeping rough on a single night are from the UK.

The majority of people sleeping rough on a single night in England in 2019 are from the UK. This is broadly the same as previous years. In 2019, there were 2,735 people from the UK (64 % of the total) estimated to be sleeping rough on single night, 937 people (22 % of the total) who were EU (Non-UK) nationals and 151 people (4 % of the total) who were from outside the EU and the UK. The nationality of 443 people (10 % of the total) was ‘Not known’. This is a similar figure to last year.

In London, half of the people estimated to be sleeping rough are from outside the UK in 2019. In total, 367 people were from the UK (32 % of the total) 481 people (42 % of the total) were EU (Non-UK) nationals and 84 people (7 % of the total) were from outside the EU and the UK. The nationality of 204 people (18 % of the total) was ‘Not known’, which according to the relevant local authorities is largely due to people sleeping in tents and not engaging with local authorities.

The North East also has a high percentage of ‘Not known’ compared to other regions which according to the relevant local authorities was due to a group who remained under their bedding and did not engage. The North East has the fewest people sleeping rough compared to other regions, so this needs to be taken into account when interpreting the breakdowns by nationality given the large number of ‘Not known’ responses.

Table 4.3.1: Nationality of people sleeping rough.

Year UK EU (Non-UK) Non-EU Not Known Total
2017 3,396 760 193 402 4,751
2018 3,013 1,048 153 463 4,677
2019 2,735 937 151 443 4,266

Figure 4.3.1: Nationality of people sleeping rough in England.

Figure 11

Table 4.3.2: Percentage of people sleeping rough by nationality and region.

Area UK EU (Non-UK) Non-EU Not Known
England 64 22 4 10
Rest of England 76 15 2 8
London 32 42 7 18
South East 75 14 4 7
South West 79 11 2 8
East of England 66 27 1 6
North West 85 5 1 9
West Midlands 79 14 1 6
East Midlands 71 21 2 6
Yorkshire and The Humber 78 9 2 11
North East 73 3 3 21

5. Snapshot approach

The majority of local authorities (90 %) used the same approach for their Rough sleeping snapshot as they did the previous year.

The majority of local authorities used an evidence-based meeting for their Rough sleeping snapshot.

Local authorities in conjunction with local agencies decide which approach to use for their snapshot of rough sleeping. They are advised to use the approach that will most accurately reflect the number of people sleeping rough in their local authority and will provide the most robust estimate and best meets the local context.

There are different approaches a local authority can decide to use, this includes:

  • A count-based estimate which is the number of people seen sleeping rough in the local authority on a ‘typical night’ - a single date chosen by the local authority between 1st October and 30th November.

  • An evidence-based estimate meeting which is an evidence-based assessment by local agencies , leading to a single snapshot figure that represents the number of people thought to be sleeping rough in the local authority on a ‘typical night’ - a single date chosen by the local authority between 1st October and 30th November.

  • An evidence-based estimate meeting including a spotlight count which is the same as above, but with the one of the evidence sources also including a street count, which might not be as extensive as the count-based estimate but has taken place after midnight on the ‘typical night’.

In 2019, 239 local authorities (75 %) used an evidence-based estimate meeting or an evidence-based estimate meeting including spotlight count for their Rough sleeping snapshot and 78 local authorities (25 %) used a count-based estimate.

Figure 5.1: Approach used by local authorities for their Rough sleeping snapshot, 2010 to 2019.

Figure 12

As in previous years the majority of local authorities used an evidence-based estimate meeting for their Rough sleeping snapshot. However, many more local authorities are using an evidence-based estimate meeting with a spotlight count compared to last year, and more local authorities are using a count-based estimate for the Rough sleeping snapshot compared to last year. More local authorities are supplementing their evidence-based estimate meetings with a spotlight count as one of the sources of evidence considered at the meeting compared to last year but we do not know how this compares with earlier years as although this approach was available, only a distinction between estimates and counts was recorded and published.

Local authorities can change approach from year to year but any decision to change the overall approach from one year to the next has to be guided by whether it will produce the most accurate and robust figure. Homeless Link who independently verify the Rough sleeping snapshot have questioned the decision making behind any such changes and if they were not happy with the reasons given by the local authority these snapshot figures would not be verified.

There are several reasons why a local authority may change from an estimate to a count or vice versa from year to year. For example, a local authority may change from an estimate to a count if there are a lack of local agencies with intelligence about where people are sleeping rough or if agencies refuse to share their data which means it would be difficult to form a reliable estimate. A local authority may change from a count to an estimate if there are new sleep sites which are in accessible or unsafe to access which would not be included in a count.

Any decision to change the overall approach from one year to the next should be guided by whether it will produce the most accurate figure. Homeless Link ask for details of this decision-making as part of the verification process to ensure any changes meet the guidance.

However, some RSI local authorities might possibly have changed their approach because they felt that the level of rough sleeping was falling or changing due to the initiative, and so they may have wanted to improve their intelligence. In addition, they would also have had more resources to do a count-based estimate or evidence-based estimate with a spotlight count as they had more funded outreach workers.

The majority of local authorities (90 %) used the same approach for their Rough sleeping snapshot as they did the previous year. However, 8 RSI local authorities (3 %) and 4 Non-RSI local authorities (1 %) changed from a count-based estimate to an evidence-based estimate meeting or evidence-based estimate meeting with a spotlight count. In addition, 19 RSI local authorities (6 %) changed from an evidence-based estimate meeting or evidence-based estimate meeting with a spotlight count to a count-based estimate. In 2019, over three quarters of local authorities are now RSI local authorities and those who have not received any funding are local authorities that historically have very few people sleeping rough.

Last year we published the impact evaluation of the 2018 RSI which found that local authorities changing their approach to measuring rough sleeping from count to estimate and vice versa did not account for the fall in rough sleeping seen in these local authorities. A more detailed analysis of the Rough sleeping snapshot overtime was carried out to examine the possible effects of local authorities’ changing their snapshot approach. This is available in the Technical report.

Figure 5.2: Percentage of local authorities that changed approach[footnote 6] for their Rough sleeping snapshot, 2010 to 2019.

Figure 13

6. Consultation with local agencies

Nearly three quarters of local authorities consulted at least five different agencies for their snapshot.

Most local authorities involved the police, the voluntary sector and outreach teams for their snapshot.

The involvement of local agencies is an essential element in the Rough sleeping snapshot as it ensures transparency about how the snapshot was carried out and enables Homeless Link to speak to independent local agencies as part of the verification process. Homeless Link will not verify the process where no local agencies, or only those that are part of, or commissioned by, the local authority are involved.

Local authorities consult local agencies to discuss what intelligence they have about rough sleeping locally to check if there are any factors that might affect the choice of a ‘typical night’ for the estimate.

The local authority should involve those local agencies that will have the most accurate information about who is sleeping rough.

In 2019, every local authority reported that they had consulted with at least one type of local agency, and 72 % reported they had consulted over 5 different groups or more.

Figure 6.1: Number of agencies consulted by local authorities for their Rough sleeping snapshot.

Figure 14

In 2019, nearly all local authorities involved the voluntary sector, the police and outreach workers in their Rough sleeping snapshot. The majority of local authorities also involved substance misuse teams and mental health agencies.

Figure 6.2: Local agencies most commonly involved in 2019 Rough sleeping snapshot.

Figure 15

7. Technical Notes

7.1 Data tables, interactive dashboard and technical report

Five accompanying tables are available alongside this release. These include the number of people sleeping rough, demographic information (i.e. gender, age, nationality), RSI local authorities, the snapshot approach used and any consultations that took place with local agencies.

A new interactive dashboard and infographic are now also available which enables users to explore trends in rough sleeping since 2010. A new technical report is now also available which explains in more detail how the rough sleeping data is collected, provides an assessment of data quality and the data limitations.

7.2 Data quality and limitations

These statistics provide a way of estimating the number of people sleeping rough across England on a single night and assessing change over time. Accurately estimating the number of people sleeping rough within a local authority is inherently difficult given the hidden nature of rough sleeping. There are a range of factors that can impact on the number of people seen or thought to be sleeping rough on any given night. This includes the weather, where people choose to sleep, the date and time chosen, and the availability of alternatives such as night shelters. The figures in this release therefore are subject to some uncertainty and should be treated as estimates of the number of people sleeping rough on a single night and an indication of trends over time.

The impact evaluation of the 2018 RSI which we published last year found that local authorities changing their approach to measuring rough sleeping did not account for the fall in rough sleeping seen in these local authorities, it also found that the weather on the night of, and leading up to, the snapshot, did not have any impact on the number of people sleeping rough.

Homeless Link, have been funded by MHCLG since 2010 to provide guidance to local authorities who conduct the snapshot of rough sleeping and independently verify all local authorities snapshots. For more information about the quality assurance processes, data limitations and the role of Homeless Link please see the detailed technical report.

Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN)

The Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN) is a multi-agency database recording information about people seen rough sleeping by outreach teams in London. CHAIN is managed by St Mungo’s, a London-based homeless charity, and is used by organisations working with people sleeping rough in London. Information is recorded onto the CHAIN database by people who work directly with people sleeping rough in London (e.g. workers in outreach teams, day centres, hostels and resettlement teams). CHAIN does not cover ‘hidden homeless’ groups, such as those who are squatting or staying in inaccessible locations to outreach workers.

The CHAIN data, which is published quarterly and annually, is not directly comparable to the single night snapshot counts and estimates presented in this release. The CHAIN data most similar to the single night snapshot provides a total count of all individuals seen sleeping rough by outreach teams in London on at least one night during the October to December 2019 quarter. Whereas the MHCLG single night snapshot for autumn 2019 shows the number of people seen or thought to be sleeping rough on a single night between October 1st and November 30th 2019. The CHAIN database also records more detailed demographic information about people sleeping rough.

Although the CHAIN database provides more information about the flows and characteristics of people sleeping rough in London, MHCLG’s Rough sleeping snapshot provides a way of estimating the number of people sleeping rough on a single night and measuring change over time. CHAIN data quality is influenced by the number of outreach workers active on any one night. A local authority which does not have a commissioned outreach team may appear to have fewer rough sleepers than an adjacent borough which does have an active outreach service.

Deaths of homeless people in England and Wales

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) publishes experimental statistics on the number of deaths of homeless people in England and Wales.

Hostels and support services

Homeless Link publishes an Annual Review of Single Homelessness support, which includes information about the number of hostels and shelters in England and available bed spaces, as well as the support and services available to single people who become homeless in England.

MHCLG Related Statistics

The rough sleeping statistics do not provide a definitive number of people or households affected by homelessness in England. The term ‘homelessness’ is much broader than people sleeping rough. It is difficult to provide an accurate estimate of all homelessness across England. Data used to compile any estimate is collated from different datasets, which sample different subsets of the population over different time frames. Any estimate of homelessness in England will collate datasets that are not discrete from one another, which means some individuals may have been included more than once in the estimated total.

Statutory Homelessness

MHCLG also collect and publish quarterly statistics on the broad characteristics and circumstances of households owed a statutory homelessness duty, which includes households who approach the council for help with housing who are sleeping rough.

Hidden Homelessness

MHCLG produce other statistics releases that can help build up the wider homelessness picture. For example, the English Housing Survey publishes data on the number of concealed households, which are additional adults in a household who wanted to rent or buy but could not afford to do so, as well as the ‘sofa surfers’ in England. In addition, the CORE social housing lettings collection publishes data on those moving from homelessness into local Authority/ Private Registered Providers accommodation.

Expenditure on homelessness

MHCLG publish statistics on local authority revenue expenditure and financing in England. The RO4 return within the Revenue Outturn suite relates to housing services and includes information on local authorities’ expenditure on homelessness activities.

7.4 Revisions policy

This policy has been developed in accordance with the UK Statistics Authority Code of Practice for statistics and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Revisions Policy. There are two types of revisions that the policy covers:

Non-Scheduled Revisions

Where a substantial error has occurred as a result of the compilation, imputation or dissemination process, the statistical release, live tables and other accompanying releases will be updated with a correction notice as soon as is practical.
If a local authority notifies MHCLG of an error in the information they have submitted after publication of the release, a decision on whether to revise will be made based upon the impact of any change and the effect it has on the interpretation of the data.

Scheduled Revisions There are no scheduled revisions for this release.

7.5 Uses of the data

The data in this statistical release provide evidence on the prevalence of and trends in rough sleeping in England.

Within MHCLG they are used:

  • For ministerial briefing & correspondence, Parliamentary Questions, Freedom of Information Act cases and to answer public enquiries.

  • As background to policy development.

  • For monitoring policy, allocating resources, performance monitoring and to support bids for funding from the Treasury.

Outside of MHCLG users include:

  • Local housing authorities for monitoring progress, planning and commissioning services to prevent and tackle rough sleeping.

  • Other government departments (e.g. Department for Health and Social Care, Public Health Outcomes Framework).

  • The voluntary sector & academics to monitor and evaluate housing policy and for campaigning and fundraising purposes.

  • EU bodies to compare homelessness across Europe (e.g. FEANTSA Overview of Housing Exclusion in Europe).

7.6 User engagement

Users are encouraged to provide feedback on how these statistics are used and how well they meet user needs. Comments on any issues relating to this statistical release are welcomed and encouraged. Please contact roughsleepingstatistics@communities.gov.uk if you have any feedback or comments.

The Department’s engagement strategy to meet the needs of statistics users is published here.

The MHCLG Homelessness Statistics User Forum also keep users up to date with all the latest developments in MHCLG’s homelessness statistics. This include previous user engagement surveys and roundtables, recent improvements and response to the UK Statistics Authority Assessment report.

7.7 Devolved administration statistics

The devolved administrations publish their own statistics on homelessness which contain information on rough sleeping:

  • The Scottish Government publishes figures on the number of households applying to the local authority for assistance under homelessness legislation who say they have slept rough the previous night or have reported their housing situation as ‘long term roofless’.

  • The Welsh Government publish a national annual rough sleeping monitoring exercise, which includes a two week information gathering exercise followed by a one night snapshot count. This is carried out by local authorities, in partnership with other local agencies to gauge the extent of rough sleeping across Wales.

  • The governing legislation for homelessness in Northern Ireland is the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1988 (as amended). Unlike the other three UK nations, housing is allocated by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE), which covers the whole of Northern Ireland, rather than by local authorities. In Northern Ireland statistics on homelessness are obtained from the NIHE. They carry out an annual street count in Belfast in partnership with other local agencies and homeless organisations.

Comparing between UK countries

The figures are not directly comparable between countries as they have a different methodology, coverage and are carried out at different time periods. ONS recently published a report and an interactive dashboard on the comparability and coherence of existing UK government data sources on homelessness.

Pre-release access The pre-release access list gives details about the officials who have 24 hours pre-release access to the Department’s rough sleeping statistics prior to publication.

8. Enquiries

Media

Telephone: 0303 444 1209

Email: newsdesk@communities.gov.uk

Statistical enquiries

Telephone: 0303 444 2623 or 8941

Email: roughsleepingstatistics@communities.gov.uk

Responsible Analysts: Jon White & Anthony Ash

Information on Official Statistics is available via the UK Statistics Authority website.

Information about statistics at MHCLG is available via the Department’s website.

9. Annex: Regional Maps

The following regional maps detail the number of people estimated to be sleeping rough on a single night in autumn 2019 for each local authority in England.

9.1 London

Figure 16

Table 9.1: Number of people sleeping rough in London on a single night in autumn 2019.

Local Authority People sleeping rough Initiative
Westminster 333 RSI
Hillingdon 106 RSI
Camden 65 RSI
Newham 64 RSI
Islington 51 RSI
Southwark 44 RSI
Lambeth 43 RSI
City of London 41 RSI
Haringey 33 RSI
Wandsworth 28 RSI
Brent 25 RSI
Enfield 24 RSI
Barnet 24 RSI
Ealing 20 RSI
Kingston upon Thames 20 RSI
Kensington and Chelsea 19 RSI
Waltham Forest 18 RSI
Tower Hamlets 17 RSI
Lewisham 16 RSI
Greenwich 16 RSI
Redbridge 16 RSI
Merton 15 RSI
Barking and Dagenham 14 RSI
Richmond upon Thames 14 RSI
Hackney 14 RSI
Harrow 10 RSI
Bexley 9 RSI
Havering 8 RSI
Hounslow 8 RSI
Bromley 8 RSI
Croydon 6 RSI
Sutton 5 RSI
Hammersmith and Fulham 2 RSI
Total 1136 -

9.2 South East

Figure 17

Table 9.2: Number of people sleeping rough in the South East on a single night in autumn 2019.

Local Authority People sleeping rough Initiative
Brighton and Hove 88 RSI
Oxford 43 RSI
Windsor and Maidenhead 40 RSI
Canterbury 39 RSI
Milton Keynes 35 RSI
Crawley 33 Non-RSI
Chichester 31 Non-RSI
Arun 28 Non-RSI
Reading 28 RSI
Portsmouth 26 RSI
Ashford 25 Non-RSI
Slough 25 RSI
New Forest 22 RSI
Bracknell Forest 22 RSI
Hastings 21 RSI
Aylesbury Vale 18 RSI
Thanet 17 RSI
Wycombe 16 RSI
Guildford 16 RSI
Eastbourne 16 RSI
Southampton 15 RSI
Dartford 13 Non-RSI
Gravesham 13 RSI
Worthing 13 RSI
Medway 12 RSI
Surrey Heath 12 RSI
Tunbridge Wells 11 RSI
Horsham 11 RSI
Cherwell 11 RSI
Woking 11 Non-RSI
Isle of Wight 11 RSI
Folkestone and Hythe 10 RSI
Fareham 10 RSI
Winchester 10 RSI
Wokingham 10 Non-RSI
Swale 10 RSI
West Berkshire 10 RSI
Spelthorne 9 RSI
Elmbridge 9 RSI
Dover 9 RSI
Mid Sussex 8 Non-RSI
Mole Valley 8 Non-RSI
Test Valley 6 RSI
Tonbridge and Malling 6 RSI
Rushmoor 6 RSI
Epsom and Ewell 5 Non-RSI
Basingstoke and Deane 5 RSI
Rother 4 RSI
Waverley 4 Non-RSI
Sevenoaks 4 RSI
Gosport 4 Non-RSI
South Oxfordshire 4 Non-RSI
Eastleigh 3 Non-RSI
Vale of White Horse 3 Non-RSI
Maidstone 3 RSI
Reigate and Banstead 3 Non-RSI
West Oxfordshire 3 Non-RSI
Chiltern 2 RSI
Wealden 2 RSI
Tandridge 2 Non-RSI
Runnymede 2 Non-RSI
Adur 2 Non-RSI
East Hampshire 1 RSI
Lewes 1 RSI
Hart 0 RSI
South Bucks 0 RSI
Havant 0 RSI
Total 900 -

9.3 East of England

Figure 18

Table 9.3: Number of people sleeping rough in the East of England on a single night in autumn 2019.

Local Authority People sleeping rough Initiative
Luton 43 RSI
Peterborough 37 RSI
Cambridge 33 RSI
Southend-on-Sea 32 RSI
Bedford 30 RSI
Great Yarmouth 21 RSI
Watford 19 RSI
Norwich 18 RSI
Breckland 16 RSI
East Hertfordshire 15 RSI
Stevenage 15 RSI
Chelmsford 15 RSI
West Suffolk 13 RSI
Central Bedfordshire 13 RSI
East Suffolk 13 RSI
Fenland 11 RSI
Dacorum 10 RSI
Colchester 10 RSI
North Norfolk 10 RSI
St Albans 9 RSI
Thurrock 8 RSI
Hertsmere 7 RSI
Ipswich 7 RSI
North Hertfordshire 7 Non-RSI
Welwyn Hatfield 6 Non-RSI
Braintree 5 RSI
Basildon 5 RSI
Huntingdonshire 4 Non-RSI
Tendring 4 RSI
Harlow 3 RSI
King’s Lynn and West Norfolk 3 Non-RSI
Mid Suffolk 2 Non-RSI
Epping Forest 2 RSI
Maldon 2 RSI
South Cambridgeshire 2 Non-RSI
Babergh 2 Non-RSI
Three Rivers 2 Non-RSI
Broadland 1 RSI
Broxbourne 1 Non-RSI
East Cambridgeshire 1 Non-RSI
Rochford 1 Non-RSI
Castle Point 0 Non-RSI
South Norfolk 0 RSI
Brentwood 0 Non-RSI
Uttlesford 0 Non-RSI
Total 458 -

9.4 South West

Figure 19

Table 9.4: Number of people sleeping rough in the South West on a single night in autumn 2019.

Local Authority People sleeping rough Initiative
Bristol, City of 98 RSI
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole 72 RSI
Exeter 31 RSI
Somerset West and Taunton 25 RSI
Sedgemoor 25 Non-RSI
North Devon 24 RSI
Cornwall 24 RSI
Plymouth 19 RSI
Wiltshire 18 RSI
Dorset 18 RSI
Bath and North East Somerset 17 RSI
Gloucester 17 RSI
Torbay 16 RSI
Swindon 15 RSI
Mendip 13 RSI
Cheltenham 9 RSI
South Somerset 8 RSI
Cotswold 7 RSI
North Somerset 6 RSI
South Gloucestershire 6 Non-RSI
Teignbridge 5 RSI
East Devon 4 RSI
Forest of Dean 3 RSI
Torridge 3 RSI
Stroud 2 RSI
Tewkesbury 2 RSI
South Hams 1 RSI
West Devon 1 RSI
Mid Devon 1 RSI
Isles of Scilly 0 Non-RSI
Total 490 -

9.5 West Midlands

Figure 20

Table 9.5: Number of people sleeping rough in the West Midlands on a single night in autumn 2019.

Local Authority People sleeping rough Initiative
Birmingham 52 RSI
Herefordshire, County of 29 RSI
Coventry 23 RSI
Warwick 21 RSI
Telford and Wrekin 20 RSI
Worcester 19 RSI
Stoke-on-Trent 16 RSI
Shropshire 16 RSI
Wolverhampton 14 RSI
Rugby 12 RSI
Sandwell 10 Non-RSI
Nuneaton and Bedworth 8 RSI
Wychavon 7 RSI
Malvern Hills 7 RSI
Solihull 6 RSI
Stratford-on-Avon 6 RSI
Walsall 6 RSI
Wyre Forest 6 RSI
Newcastle-under-Lyme 6 RSI
East Staffordshire 5 RSI
Stafford 5 RSI
Tamworth 5 Non-RSI
Lichfield 5 RSI
Dudley 4 Non-RSI
Staffordshire Moorlands 4 RSI
Bromsgrove 3 RSI
Redditch 2 RSI
Cannock Chase 1 RSI
South Staffordshire 1 Non-RSI
North Warwickshire 0 Non-RSI
Total 319 -

9.6 East Midlands

Figure 21

Table 9.6: Number of people sleeping rough in the East Midlands on a single night in autumn 2019.

Local Authority People sleeping rough Initiative
Nottingham 30 RSI
Northampton 28 RSI
Lincoln 27 RSI
Mansfield 22 RSI
Leicester 22 RSI
Boston 19 RSI
Corby 17 RSI
Derby 14 RSI
Chesterfield 13 RSI
Bassetlaw 13 RSI
South Holland 12 Non-RSI
Erewash 11 RSI
East Northamptonshire 10 RSI
East Lindsey 8 RSI
South Kesteven 7 Non-RSI
Daventry 5 Non-RSI
Ashfield 5 RSI
Wellingborough 5 RSI
South Northamptonshire 4 Non-RSI
Amber Valley 4 RSI
Kettering 4 RSI
Hinckley and Bosworth 3 Non-RSI
Derbyshire Dales 3 RSI
Charnwood 3 Non-RSI
Rushcliffe 2 RSI
Harborough 2 Non-RSI
Newark and Sherwood 2 RSI
Bolsover 2 RSI
High Peak 2 RSI
North West Leicestershire 1 Non-RSI
Oadby and Wigston 1 Non-RSI
Broxtowe 1 RSI
Rutland 1 Non-RSI
West Lindsey 1 Non-RSI
North Kesteven 1 Non-RSI
Blaby 0 Non-RSI
Gedling 0 RSI
North East Derbyshire 0 RSI
South Derbyshire 0 RSI
Melton 0 Non-RSI
Total 305 -

9.7 Yorkshire and The Humber

Figure 22

Table 9.7: Number of people sleeping rough in Yorkshire and The Humber on a single night in autumn 2019.

Local Authority People sleeping rough Initiative
Leeds 40 RSI
Sheffield 29 RSI
Doncaster 24 RSI
East Riding of Yorkshire 19 Non-RSI
Kingston upon Hull, City of 18 RSI
Kirklees 16 RSI
Bradford 13 RSI
Wakefield 13 RSI
North East Lincolnshire 11 RSI
Rotherham 10 RSI
North Lincolnshire 10 RSI
Scarborough 10 RSI
York 7 RSI
Harrogate 6 Non-RSI
Selby 5 RSI
Calderdale 5 RSI
Craven 3 Non-RSI
Barnsley 2 RSI
Ryedale 1 RSI
Hambleton 0 Non-RSI
Richmondshire 0 Non-RSI
Total 242 -

9.8 North West

Figure 23

Table 9.8: Number of people sleeping rough in the North West on a single night in autumn 2019.

Local Authority People sleeping rough Initiative
Manchester 91 RSI
Blackburn with Darwen 21 Non-RSI
Liverpool 17 RSI
Warrington 16 RSI
Blackpool 15 RSI
South Lakeland 14 RSI
Preston 14 RSI
Cheshire West and Chester 14 RSI
Stockport 12 RSI
St. Helens 11 RSI
Bolton 11 RSI
Salford 10 RSI
Wigan 8 RSI
Burnley 8 Non-RSI
Cheshire East 8 RSI
Halton 8 RSI
Allerdale 8 RSI
Fylde 7 Non-RSI
Hyndburn 6 Non-RSI
Lancaster 6 RSI
Wirral 6 RSI
Rochdale 5 RSI
Tameside 5 RSI
Carlisle 5 RSI
Oldham 4 RSI
Bury 4 RSI
Chorley 4 Non-RSI
Wyre 3 Non-RSI
Barrow-in-Furness 3 RSI
Sefton 2 RSI
South Ribble 1 Non-RSI
Trafford 1 RSI
Copeland 1 RSI
Rossendale 0 Non-RSI
Knowsley 0 Non-RSI
Ribble Valley 0 Non-RSI
Pendle 0 Non-RSI
West Lancashire 0 Non-RSI
Eden 0 RSI
Total 349 -

9.9 North East

Figure 24

Table 9.9: Number of people sleeping rough in the North West on a single night in autumn 2019.

Local Authority People sleeping rough Initiative
Newcastle upon Tyne 21 RSI
Northumberland 15 RSI
Middlesbrough 9 RSI
Stockton-on-Tees 8 RSI
North Tyneside 8 RSI
Hartlepool 2 RSI
County Durham 2 RSI
South Tyneside 1 RSI
Sunderland 1 RSI
Redcar and Cleveland 0 RSI
Gateshead 0 RSI
Darlington 0 RSI
Total 67 -

Footnotes:

  1. The Rapid Rehousing Pathway was launched as part of the Rough Sleeping Strategy in August 2018. The pathway backed by £41 million of funding brings together 4 policy elements (Somewhere Safe to Stay, Supported Lettings, Navigators and Local Lettings Agencies) that will help rough sleepers, and those at risk of rough sleeping, access the support and settled housing they need to leave the streets for good. 

  2. The Cold Weather Fund is a £13 million fund available to help all local authorities to develop local responses to support rough sleepers off the streets during the winter period. 

  3. On 1 April 2019 the following local authority boundary changes took place. Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole merged to become Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. East Dorset, North Dorset, Purbeck, West Dorset and Weymouth & Portland merged to become Dorset. Forest Heath and St Edmundsbury merged to become West Suffolk. Suffolk Coastal and Waveney merged to become East Suffolk. Taunton Deane and West Somerset merged to become Somerset West and Taunton. Local authority boundary changes from April 1 2019 means the following RSI local authorities have merged with other local authorities which did not receive any funding. Bournemouth has been replaced by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. Taunton Deane has merged with West Somerset to become Somerset West and Taunton and St Edmundsbury has merged with Forest Heath to become West Suffolk. These newly merged local authorities which have been partly receiving RSI funding since 2018 have been included as local authorities which received RSI funding from 2018 and 2017 so comparisons can be made with 2019. 

  4. On 1 April 2019 East Dorset, North Dorset, Purbeck, West Dorset and Weymouth & Portland merged to become Dorset, and Suffolk Coastal and Waveney merged to become East Suffolk. These newly merged local authorities became RSI local authorities in 2019, therefore any comparisons to previous years are based on the figures for the local authorities before they were merged. 

  5. Demographic information was collected for the first time in 2016. The totals included ‘Not known’ but not all local authorities were able to provide exact numbers of these ‘Not known’ responses, therefore this information is not comparable with later years. 

  6. Only approach changes from a “Count” to “Estimate” or “Estimate” to a “Count” was considered as a change in approach. “Estimate” to “Estimate including spotlight” (or vice versa) was not recognised as a change in approach. We did not routinely collect and report information about estimates including spotlights before 2018 despite this approach being available - these were all classified as estimates.