The Government has confirmed it will repeal the Vagrancy Act 1824 by Spring 2026, formally removing legislation that criminalised rough sleeping in England and Wales for over two centuries.
Originally introduced during the Georgian era to address homelessness following the Napoleonic Wars and the Industrial Revolution, the Act has remained part of UK law despite a significant decline in its use. Campaigners and charities have long called for its removal, arguing it no longer reflects modern attitudes or understanding of homelessness.
While the decision to repeal the Act was first announced in 2022, a formal timeline had not been established. The latest commitment will see the law scrapped within a year, aligning with the Government’s broader goal to address the root causes of homelessness.
The repeal comes alongside increased financial support for homelessness services. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has allocated an additional £233 million in funding this financial year, bringing the total for 2025-26 to nearly £1 billion. The funding aims to prevent families from entering temporary accommodation and provide direct support to those experiencing homelessness.
As part of the legislative update, the Government plans to introduce new measures under the Home Office’s Crime and Policing Bill to address criminal activities not covered by the repeal. These include proposed offences targeting organised begging and trespassing with intent to commit a crime. The aim is to provide law enforcement with tools to respond to organised crime while avoiding the criminalisation of vulnerable individuals.
A new national homelessness strategy is also in development, with input from government departments, local authorities, and mayors. It is expected to be published later this year.
The repeal marks a shift towards treating rough sleeping as a social issue rather than a criminal one.
St Mungo’s CEO Emma Haddad said: ‘The repeal of the Vagrancy Act, which criminalises rough sleeping, cannot come soon enough.
‘Right now, we are supporting thousands of people who are rough sleeping; everyone facing this issue has their own heartbreaking story to tell of how they ended up on the streets – from complex mental and physical health issues to an increasingly unaffordable housing market.
‘The answer is not to criminalise people for living on the streets but instead to focus on tackling the health, housing and wider societal issues that are causing homelessness in the first place.’
Chief Executive of Crisis Matt Downie said: ‘This is a landmark moment that will change lives and prevent thousands of people from being pushed into the shadows, away from safety.
‘For 200 years the Vagrancy Act has meant that people who are homeless are treated as criminals and second class citizens. It has punished people for trying to stay safe and done nothing to address why people become homeless in the first place.
‘Ending the use of the Vagrancy Act recognises a shameful history of persecuting people for poverty and destitution, something that figures like William Wilberforce and Winston Churchill warned against in their opposition to the Act.
‘It is of great credit to the UK Government that they have shown such principled leadership in scrapping this pernicious Act. We hope this signals a completely different approach to helping people forced onto the streets and clears the way for a positive agenda that is about supporting people who desperately want to move on in life and fulfil their potential. We look forward to assisting the UK Government with their forthcoming homelessness strategy to do exactly that.’
Leave a Reply