Vagrancy Act 1824

Statement

Today I am confirming that the Vagrancy Act 1824 has been repealed.

This Government is drawing a clear line after over 200 years of criminalising people for sleeping rough.

The moral case is clear: no one should be punished for having nowhere safe to sleep, and people facing homelessness deserve dignity and support, not criminalisation.

This change allows us to focus on what really matters — preventing homelessness, intervening earlier, and making sure people receive the right support at the right time, as set out in A National Plan to End Homelessness

We have also been clear that repeal needed to be implemented responsibly, without leaving gaps in the law where community safety issues arise. Replacement measures have been introduced alongside repeal. These are narrow and targeted. They do not criminalise rough sleeping or target people simply for being destitute. They are focused on specific issues including exploitative organised begging and trespass with intent to commit a crime.

Repeal is not the end of our work to prevent homelessness and support people away from the streets, but it is a significant step forward. We will now focus on delivering that shift in practice—through earlier intervention and ensuring people get the right support at the right time.