Rough sleepers assisted in city centre operation
21/02/12
Grampian Police officers in Aberdeen have over the last month carried out an operation to assist the homeless and those rough sleeping throughout the city centre.
Police officers, in partnership with representatives from Aberdeen City Council, the King's Community Project and Cyrenians, have been undertaking patrols to locate and offer support to those in the city who are homeless and in need of assistance.
In particular, the patrols have targeted car parks, disused buildings and tenement buildings in the city centre.
Where the patrols encountered people sleeping rough on the streets, they made arrangements for their referral to Aberdeen City Council's housing department and to other agencies to tackle social, health and any other issues.
This latest phase of the safer city centre strategy follows a successful operation just before Christmas, where Grampian Police officers and staff from the UK Borders Agency carried out street begging patrols in the city centre.
Constable Graham Alder said: "The reasons why people are homeless vary, however, it significantly increases their vulnerability and as a result they often become involved in criminality and become victims of crime themselves.
"We are committed to protecting vulnerable individuals from the risks and harm caused by homelessness.
"It is our aim to help improve the lives of the homeless in Aberdeen City Centre, and to make the city centre a safer place for everyone."
"This operation has allowed us to gain a greater understanding of homelessness in the city, to provide support and assistance to those in need and to further strengthen the good relationships we have with our partner agencies. The numbers encountered have been low which is encouraging. However we appreciate this could change and working alongside our partners we will continue to monitor the situation as we progress through the year.
Partners Aberdeen City Council have implemented a range of measures to ensure temporary accommodation can be accessed quickly by those in need and to reduce homelessness in the city.
This has included the provision of a Winter Care Shelter, in partnership with the Bethany Christian Trust, which opened in December and will stay open until the end of this month (February 26th).
Aberdeen City Council Director of Housing and Environment Pete Leonard said: "It is encouraging that fewer people have had to spend a night in the shelter this winter however this initiative led by Grampian Police has helped to identify the extent of residual rough sleeping in the city. Aberdeen City Council is committed to arranging accommodation immediately for anyone found to be in this vulnerable situation."
Barry Douglas of the King's Community Project added: "We're delighted to have partnered with Grampian Police on this initiative.
"It's vital that we reach out to the homeless and through this operation we have again shown that there are people out there who care, and who are desperate to assist them in getting back on their feet and living full lives again.
"People from all walks of life find themselves on the street, living in horrendous conditions, and through joining forces we feel we can truly help these folks."
Susan Montgomerie of Cyrenians said: "The Cyrenians welcomes the opportunity to partner other agencies in providing support to people who are homeless or sleeping rough in the city.
"We offer practical help and assistance e.g. food, clothing, access to personal care facilities and advice and information on resolving people's homelessness situations."