During 2025/26, Fife Council introduced the Rough Sleeping Reporting Tool to strengthen early intervention and provide more responsive support to individuals experiencing rough sleeping. The initiative was designed to help partners and the public quickly and easily report concerns, enabling Safer Communities Officers (SCOs) to respond promptly and offer assistance. By improving visibility and access to support, the project contributes to reducing poverty, improving health outcomes and supporting access to housing.

The tool was initially piloted over an eight-week period in the Cowdenbeath area. During this phase, a wide range of partners, including Police Scotland, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, postal workers and council services such as refuse collection, worked collaboratively to identify and report instances of rough sleeping. This partnership approach strengthened information sharing and ensured that potential cases were identified through routine frontline activity.

Early findings from the pilot demonstrated encouraging engagement levels. Reports most commonly related to single adults, with a slightly higher proportion of men, typically aged between 36 and 45. While individuals were not always present when officers attended, 75% of those approached engaged with Safer Communities Officers, and 13% accepted practical support in the form of a warm pack. These outcomes highlight the value of early contact and the importance of offering immediate, tangible support.

Following the successful pilot, the project was rolled out across Fife and expanded to include reporting by members of the public. This broader approach enables residents and visitors to play an active role in identifying and supporting individuals who may be at risk, helping to ensure that no one is overlooked. The Communications team supported this wider rollout through targeted promotion, including social media campaigns and posters in public spaces featuring QR codes linking directly to a short reporting form.

Public engagement has been strong. A social media post promoting the tool in February 2026 reached over 86,000 views and was shared 181 times, making it one of the most widely viewed and shared posts on the Council’s main Facebook page this year. This level of engagement demonstrates increased awareness of the issue and greater willingness among the public to take action and report concerns.

The initiative directly supports the Plan for Fife priority of Tackling Poverty and Preventing Crisis and contributes to ambitions around reducing poverty, improving health outcomes and ensuring access to affordable housing. By enabling quicker identification and response, the tool helps to prevent escalation of need and supports individuals at an earlier stage.

Looking ahead, the Rough Sleeping Reporting Tool will continue to be promoted throughout the year, with a focus on sustaining public awareness and strengthening partnerships. This ongoing work will ensure that the tool remains an effective mechanism for early intervention, helping to connect vulnerable individuals with the support they need and contributing to wider efforts to reduce rough sleeping across Fife.