Two makeshift camps where people are sleeping rough have been discovered hidden in bushes along the River Nene in Peterborough.

The tents are home to mostly Eastern Europeans.

One of the occupants, who did not want to give his name, said his passport was with the Home Office, which meant he could not go home. And even if he could, he did not have the money for the journey as he could not work.

Police were tipped off about the rough sleepers after a member of the public spotted someone dragging a mattress along the bank of the Nene and tracked down the encampments.

The camp looked as if it had been set up recently with mattresses, blankets, various sleeping bags and tarpaulin fashioned into a tent, razors and a clothing line with clothes hung up on trees nearby.

Pc Mike Jackman, who went to one of the sites, said the police will now work with other agencies to help the occupants get back on their feet – especially with the cold winter months approaching.



In January, The Evening Telegraph accompanied homelessness worker Antony Slack to a camp which was in a wooded area between Bourges Boulevard and the railway line which had six tents and improvised shelters.

Related:
They come for a better life but are finding a nightmare, Mark Lewis, 31 January 2008.
Number of eastern Europeans living rough in the city growing.

Special Report: The future of Peterborough: Immigration in the city
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Number of eastern Europeans living rough in the city growing

About 15 people, mainly from Lithuania, were thought to be enduring the winter chill in grim conditions.

At the time, it was revealed a fifth of the people seen at St Theresa's day centre in Manor House Street were from Eastern Europe.

Centre manager Doug Styles said since January there had been a drop in the numbers of homeless from eastern European countries from a fifth to 10 per cent.

He put it down to some getting summer work on farms and a proportion going back to their countries.

He said: "This is not to say that all of them have somewhere to stay. Some are still sleeping rough.

"The city council's outreach worker, Sarah Hebblethwaite, estimates 80 per cent sleeping rough in the city are from the migrant community."

There were 23 homeless people from all backgrounds found on a recent count.

But Mr Styles said this was the tip of the iceberg, with the "hidden homeless" – those living in squats or on friend's floors – unaccounted for.

He said: "As soon as intelligence is received, people should go to that site and establish contact. If you don't, you are not able to help.

"Interpreter services are also important, because you need communication to engage.

"I welcome what the police officer is doing. If you just move people on, you are not solving the problem."

Pc Jackman said part of the problem was that people did not know where to turn as they were in a new country and, often, did not speak the language.

He, too, believes the problem is not as bad as it was last year, and said: "Whether they are sending their wages to their country or can't speak English so they resort to this, we don't know.

"We continue to try to locate them, engage with them, help them fill out forms and tell them about the best housing options for them."