London removing its severe weather plan is branded ‘life-threatening’

London councils are deactivating their protocols to house rough sleepers on the day where a -9°C arctic blast hit the UK.

Those living on the streets in the UK’s capital will not automatically be found shelter tonight because temperatures will be above 0°C.

This is because the Mayor of London sent out a notice saying Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) will be deactivated.

But the move has been branded as ‘life-threatening’ for those with nowhere warm to sleep, after the city has seen snowfall and icy conditions today.

Streets Kitchen, which does cold outreach, told Metro: ‘As snow falls in London, the decision to deactivate the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) is not just disappointing—it is life-threatening.

‘For too long, the safety of our city’s most vulnerable has relied on a ‘humanitarian duty’ rather than a legal mandate.

‘This creates a postcode lottery where basic survival depends on which borough you happen to be in.

‘Cold weather is a silent killer for those sleeping rough, exacerbating pre-existing trauma and chronic health conditions.’

It comes as weather warnings for snow and ice cover the country, and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued amber cold health alerts for England.

But with SWEP deactivated there is no obligation to shelter those sleeping outside.

Streets Kitchen said: ‘We are calling on local and national leaders to bridge this gap: We must move beyond discretionary aid and establish a statutory legal obligation to ensure that no one is forced to endure extreme weather on our streets.

‘Humanitarianism is the starting point, but only legislation will guarantee safety for all.’

A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said: ‘City Hall’s work to support those sleeping rough continues throughout the year whether or not SWEP is activated, alongside the work of charities and councils.

‘The pan-London SWEP is activated when temperatures are 0 degrees or below.

‘Local authorities are responsible for SWEP in their communities and we encourage boroughs to make their own assessment of local need, with many providing emergency care for rough sleepers outside the London-wide coordinated SWEP.

‘City Hall’s Rough Sleeping team are continuing to monitor temperatures closely this week and working around the clock with community and voluntary organisations across London to support people experiencing rough sleeping and those at risk of doing so.’

Why is it getting so cold?

Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Mark Sidaway said: ‘It certainly looks like we are in for a taste of “winter” as we welcome in the New Year, initially in the north, but more widely across the UK for the first week of 2026.

‘Arctic air and strong northerly winds will bring cold or very cold conditions to all parts of the UK, and it will feel especially cold in the strong winds.

‘Widespread and locally severe frosts are expected, along with the first snow of the winter for many.

‘These colder conditions and wintry hazards – snow, ice and strong winds – will develop more widely as we enter the New Year, with more warnings for snow and ice likely.

‘It looks like this cold spell will last through at least the first week of January, so it’s important people keep up to date with the latest forecast and warnings.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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