Dudley Council is conducting its annual rough sleepers estimate tonight and is asking for the publics help.

The local authority is required to report the number of rough sleepers in the borough to the Government. Council bosses have called on members of the public to help make the estimate as accurate as possible.

People travelling within the borough on Wednesday night through to the early morning of Thursday who spot a rough sleeper are being urged to let the council know. They can report the description of the person and details of the location by emailing joanne.forbes@dudley.gov.uk or by calling 01384 815081.

For the purposes of the Government estimate, people can only be recorded as rough sleepers if they are sleeping in the open air, such as on the street, or in tents, doorways, parks or bus shelters.

They must be bedded down or about to bed down, and not walking around. Finally, people can also be reported as rough sleepers if they are bedded down in buildings or other places not designed for habitation, such as stairwells, sheds, car parks or cars. Councillor Laura Taylor, cabinet member for housing, said:

“It’s really important that we are able to send figures to the Government for rough sleepers that are as accurate as possible. Not only that, it will enable us to go out and try to help them. Residents who are out and about during the night can really help us with that.

“You do not have to approach the rough sleeper – just report sightings to us and we will follow up any information that is provided to us.

“We will visit the site to see if we can help anyone that has been identified and we will offer help and assistance, whether they meet the Government definition or not.”