In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, different methods are used to measure rough sleeping which politicians there feel are more reliable.

BBC: Rough sleeper figure 'misleading'

In 1999 the Labour government made it a priority to reduce rough sleeping, the most visible form of homelessness, and renewed it in 2008.

ECONOMIST: Helping the homeless

The charity hopes that by picking people up early, it will help reduce rough sleeping and prevent future problems like drug and alcohol abuse.

BBC: Homeless 'gravitating' to Taunton, says charity