THE SYSTEM to support homeless people in Bournemouth is "broken" according to a volunteer who works with the rough sleeping community.

Shelley Morris, who is a garden designer by trade, gives up her free time to support homeless individuals in a hands on way.

As well as providing clothes, blankets and food, Shelley tries to help people through the "complex" process of getting support.

However, after witnessing contracted security staff moving people on from the town centre last weekend, she is calling on Bournemouth Borough Council to rethink their approach.

"What is missing is a daytime facility. It is fine to move people off the street, I don't have an issue with that, but only if there is somewhere for them to go. At the moment there isn't," she said.

While talking to a rough sleeper she knows in Bournemouth Square, Shelley says she was approached by security staff who thought she was homeless and told her she had to move on.

After explaining who she was, the 45-year-old mother of four said it highlighted to her something needs to change.

She added: "It is all well and good having the Sleepsafe system to help for night time, but once they leave there at 8am they have nowhere to go for the rest of the day.

"The system is broken and it doesn't work. There are so many young people who are unseen living in hiding on the streets in need of support.

"It is very complex to get the process moving and then there are the issues set up by the council approach of needing a local connection to get help."

Caroline Roundhill, Bournemouth Borough Council's housing strategy and policy manager, said Bournemouth is seeing an increase in the number of people begging and rough sleeping, inline with the national trend.

“A wide range of work is undertaken by Bournemouth Council and partner agencies throughout the year to address these different street-based issues and support those that are homeless," she said

"Enforcement measures are used where there is anti-social behaviour and the teams always work to link people in with the support that is available.

"This balanced approach of enforcement and support is recognised nationally as an effective way to stop anti-social behaviour and can be a catalyst for helping rough sleepers away from the street.

Ms Roundhill said the council funded rough sleeper team provide daily outreach to support people off the streets into safe and sustainable accommodation, as well as finding a number of hostels in the town.

She added: "We work very closely with many other agencies to make sure that any additional needs, such as drug and alcohol or mental health issues, can also be addressed.

"The work that goes on in Bournemouth to address homelessness is vast, varied and complex, carried out on a daily basis and not always visible to the public.”