About SWEP

Protecting vulnerable people during severe weather, when conditions can threaten the safety and wellbeing of people who are rough sleeping.

The street outreach Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) helps to protect and provide for vulnerable people during severe weather.

Homelessness charity St Mungo's will try to offer shelter to all people sleeping rough in Bournemouth, Christchurch or Poole by providing emergency accommodation.

If you’re concerned about someone sleeping rough, please tell an outreach worker from Streetlink by calling 0300 500 0914.

To contact St Mungo’s about SWEP, email b&pstreetoutreach@mungos.org or call 01202 315 962. They have a 24-hour answerphone and messages retrieved daily.

Definition of severe weather

SWEP is activated when there is a real risk of loss of life due to weather conditions, it must be applied when the night-time temperature is predicted to be zero degree Celsius or below for three consecutive nights.

The following scenarios will also be considered:

• An occasional forecast above zero in a series of sub-zero nights should not prevent SWEP from being triggered.
• The impact of rain, snow and wind chill on the effect of temperatures
• Exceptional weather, including extreme wind, rain and flooding

In the event of a Met Office Amber Warning or, if severe weather is coupled with very low temperatures, we will examine the situation and decide whether SWEP should be activated.

If a red warning is issued then SWEP should be called.