EXTRA emergency beds are being provided for rough sleepers in Oxford tonight as temperatures are forecast to fall below zero.

The city council activated its severe weather emergency protocol (SWEP), which provides emergency accommodation for anyone experiencing rough sleeping.

Until this year, the council activated SWEP on the first night of a Met Office forecast that the overnight temperature would fall to zero or below on three or more consecutive nights.

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For the first time his winter SWEP beds are available for anyone who wants to come inside whenever the Met Office forecasts an overnight temperature of zero or below for one night.

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The council will also use its discretion to open emergency beds in other severe weather conditions. These can include snow on the ground, or a warmer night during a prolonged freezing spell.

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The overnight forecast for Tuesday night and Wednesday morning is for the temperature to rise above zero, and the council therefore expects that SWEP will close. 

Churches Together in Oxford will also offer 20 beds for rough sleepers in the Oxford Winter Night Shelter from January to March.

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Stephen Clarke, head of housing services, said: “This winter we’re activating SWEP beds every night the temperature is forecast to hit zero.

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“We’ve streamlined the registration process and will be telling people during the day where they’ll be sleeping if they want to come inside.”