Councils in Kent will be helping rough sleepers during different weather conditions – not just when temperatures drop.

The Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP), which local authorities usually activate during cold weather, will also include support for people on the streets during extreme rain, wind and heatwaves.

The guidance is designed to support councils to provide help such as temporary accommodation, in order to prevent deaths of people sleeping rough.

The protocol stays in place for however long the extreme weather lasts.

All city, district and borough councils in the county have confirmed they are up to date with the current government guidelines which cover extreme rain, wind and heat, as well as cold.

Many said they had already implemented SWEP during different weather conditions.

Dartford council was one of the latest local authorities to adopt the changes, after its cabinet advisory panel endorsed the recommendations following a meeting on January 23.

A spokesman for Sevenoaks council commented: "Our SWEP procedure and policy is in line with the current government guidance and we already comply and activate SWEP to prevent rough sleeping in extreme weather conditions.

"SWEP is generally activated during extreme cold weather, however, the council had cause to activate the procedure as a result of the unprecedented heatwaves experienced during 2022 and 2021."

Last year's heatwave, which saw firefighters tackle more than 400 blazes last year, led to councils immediately applying their emergency protocol.

Folkestone and Hythe council as well as Medway were some of many to activate their heatwave protocol last summer.

A Folkestone and Hythe council spokesman said: "SWEP covered the heatwave last year after a severe heat weather warning was issued – we would be guided by any future warnings issued by the Met Office.

"Similarly, we cover wind and rain when severe weather warnings are issued by the Met Office."

A statement from Tunbridge Wells council added: "Last summer we implemented SWEP due to extreme heat, where we provided water, sun screen to people who were known rough sleepers, and having the provision of these available at both the Amelia and Mosaic centre for customers who presented stating they were or would be rough sleeping."

Local authorities such as Maidstone council also applied their severe weather protocol during Storm Eunice last year.

A spokesman said: "MBC [Maidstone Borough Council] SWEP has been activated for those reasons in the past, including in February 2022 for Storm Eunice

"The council's SWEP operates in all adverse weather conditions including extreme cold and heat.

"However, we at MBC offer emergency accommodation throughout the year to individuals facing a real risk of rough sleeping even when the weather is not inclement."