Opportunities missed to keep Cardon Banfield off the streets, report says

An independent report into the relationship between rough sleeper Cardon Banfield, who was found dead in 2016, and support services at Worcester City Council, said more could have been done to prevent the 74-year-old from sleeping rough.

The review concluded that whilst Mr Banfield’s “transient nature” meant interactions with local services were limited and impacted the support that could have been provided, the authority could learn lessons on how to prevent further deaths.

The report, commissioned in line with new guidance from the national body Homeless Link and conducted by independent consultant Neelam Sunder, also made recommendations.

It suggested “auditing” front line staff to see who needed mental health awareness training, instigating a local system for the public to report rough sleepers and setting up an alert system for rough sleepers moving between different counties.

The report also said the city council should raise awareness of services available to rough sleepers and work with the police, fire service and voluntary agencies to increase the safety of people sleeping rough.

The report was commissioned by the city council after lobbying by homelessness campaigner Hugo Sugg and Worcestershire Heathwatch.

Calls for a review by Worcestershire County Council had previously been rejected by Worcestershire Safeguarding Adults Board - a move Mr Sugg called “shocking and irresponsible.”

The board said Mr Banfield’s limited involvement with services in the county, by his own choice, meant a review was not justified.

Mr Sugg called the city council's review a “complete whitewash” and said it raised more questions than answers.

He said: “Many people have made errors but nobody is holding their hands up and that is really troubling."

He added: "This is not going away."

The report and its recommendations will be considered by the council's communities committee when it meets on May 30.