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| Coroner to investigate death of rough sleeper in Bournemouth | Coroner to investigate death of rough sleeper in Bournemouth |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| An investigation has been launched into the death of a rough sleeper whose body was found in a car park amid claims that sleeping bags used by homeless people were removed as part of a tidy-up. | An investigation has been launched into the death of a rough sleeper whose body was found in a car park amid claims that sleeping bags used by homeless people were removed as part of a tidy-up. |
| The 66-year-old man, identified only as Kev, was discovered by an office worker in a car park in Bournemouth, Dorset. | The 66-year-old man, identified only as Kev, was discovered by an office worker in a car park in Bournemouth, Dorset. |
| Kev had not been well and his final words to a soup kitchen volunteer were: “If I wake up, I wake up. If I don’t, I don’t.” | Kev had not been well and his final words to a soup kitchen volunteer were: “If I wake up, I wake up. If I don’t, I don’t.” |
| The office worker who found Kev’s body on Monday morning said: “I put my hand on him to shake him and that’s when I knew something was wrong and my heart sank.” | The office worker who found Kev’s body on Monday morning said: “I put my hand on him to shake him and that’s when I knew something was wrong and my heart sank.” |
| Bournemouth borough council strongly denied it had taken the man’s sleeping bag or other possessions and said its staff and other agencies had been attempting to engage him for the past decade. | Bournemouth borough council strongly denied it had taken the man’s sleeping bag or other possessions and said its staff and other agencies had been attempting to engage him for the past decade. |
| Councillor Robert Lawton, Bournemouth council cabinet member for housing, expressed sadness at Kev’s death and said: “To be clear, we can confirm that the council did not remove his bedding and belongings and we have been attempting to engage with him for the last 10 years.” | Councillor Robert Lawton, Bournemouth council cabinet member for housing, expressed sadness at Kev’s death and said: “To be clear, we can confirm that the council did not remove his bedding and belongings and we have been attempting to engage with him for the last 10 years.” |
| Asked if it had removed any sleeping bags, a council spokesperson said: “The council has a duty to keep public spaces and highways clear and safe. We have a protocol in place to remove unattended items but the council is mindful that consideration is made to any vulnerable groups such as rough sleepers who may leave unattended items. | Asked if it had removed any sleeping bags, a council spokesperson said: “The council has a duty to keep public spaces and highways clear and safe. We have a protocol in place to remove unattended items but the council is mindful that consideration is made to any vulnerable groups such as rough sleepers who may leave unattended items. |
| “Our staff will, providing the item is non-hazardous, give a period of time for people to return for their belongings before assuming that the items have been abandoned. Even then, every effort will be made to inform relevant persons that the items have been removed and safely stored with arrangements for how they can be collected.” | “Our staff will, providing the item is non-hazardous, give a period of time for people to return for their belongings before assuming that the items have been abandoned. Even then, every effort will be made to inform relevant persons that the items have been removed and safely stored with arrangements for how they can be collected.” |
| Claire Matthews, the founder of the Bournemouth charity Hope for Food, said Kev was a “gentleman”. She said he used the charity’s services four times a week for several years. The charity said it would pay for Kev’s funeral if no next of kincould be found. | Claire Matthews, the founder of the Bournemouth charity Hope for Food, said Kev was a “gentleman”. She said he used the charity’s services four times a week for several years. The charity said it would pay for Kev’s funeral if no next of kincould be found. |
| A spokesperson for the charity St Mungo’s said: “It is dangerous for people to sleep on the streets, dangerous to their physical and mental health, as well as being at risk of assault. Sadly, the average age of death for a man who dies whilst homeless is 47. For a woman, it is just 43.” | A spokesperson for the charity St Mungo’s said: “It is dangerous for people to sleep on the streets, dangerous to their physical and mental health, as well as being at risk of assault. Sadly, the average age of death for a man who dies whilst homeless is 47. For a woman, it is just 43.” |
| Dorset police have passed the matter on to the coroner, who will now lead the investigation. | Dorset police have passed the matter on to the coroner, who will now lead the investigation. |
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