Rough sleeping will no longer be treated as a criminal offence after the Government officially repealed the 200-year-old Vagrancy Act, bringing an end to legislation that charities have criticised for decades.
The law, introduced in 1824 to punish so-called “idle and disorderly persons” and “rogues and vagabonds”, was originally designed to target people sleeping rough and begging. It will be formally abolished on Monday through secondary legislation.
The repeal follows the introduction of new measures in Labour’s Crime and Policing Act, which became law earlier this year. Ministers say the legislation includes new offences, such as organising begging for financial gain and trespassing with the intention of committing crimes, ensuring police retain powers to tackle criminal activity without criminalising homelessness itself.
The Government had previously pledged to abolish the Vagrancy Act by spring 2026, while earlier plans to repeal the legislation were first announced by the previous Conservative government in 2022.
Housing Secretary Steve Reed said ending the historic law marks a change in how homelessness is addressed, shifting the focus away from punishment and towards prevention.
“Homeless people are not criminals, they are people who need help,” he said.
“By repealing the outdated Vagrancy Act, we are shifting from punishment to prevention, alongside our investment to tackle homelessness for good.”
Homelessness charities have welcomed the repeal, describing it as a landmark moment for people experiencing rough sleeping.
Emma Haddad, chief executive of St Mungo’s, said the change represented “an important shift towards a more humane approach” that prioritises support, addresses the root causes of homelessness and works to prevent people from ending up on the streets.
Matt Downie, chief executive of Crisis, said the Vagrancy Act had punished people simply for being homeless and had discouraged many from accessing support services because they feared prosecution.
He described the repeal as “a watershed moment” that ends what he called the criminalisation of homelessness.
Bonnie Williams, chief executive of Housing Justice, said abolishing the Act should form part of a wider effort to ensure people not only have access to housing, but also the relationships, community and support needed to rebuild their lives.
Campaigners have argued for years that the 1824 legislation was outdated and ineffective, saying homelessness should be treated as a social issue rather than a criminal offence. Its repeal has been widely welcomed as a significant milestone in changing the way rough sleeping is addressed across England and Wales.
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