APPG Celebrates Scrapping of Vagrancy Act

Today the APPG for Ending Homelessness celebrates the repeal of the Vagrancy Act (1824) and would like to give their thanks to everyone who has helped make this historic event happen. We would like to thank the Government for taking this step and also take this moment to thank everyone from all walks of life and every political party who have campaigned for this change.   

This Act was designed to punish veterans of the Napoleonic Wars who were experiencing homelessness, opposed by Wilberforce and Churchill, and has now been consigned to the dustbin of history thanks to a cross-party campaign. 

Almost 5,000 people are currently having to sleep rough across the country and this change will prevent them being pushed further into the shadows and allow them to access the support that could change their lives. Replacing arrests with assistance. 

The end of this legislative fossil was driven by ordinary people across the county, campaigners, lawyers, police forces as well as people with lived experience of homelessness. It also highlights what can be achieved when politicians from different political parties unite to push for change that reflects our shared humanity.   

Now the Vagrancy Act is consigned to the history books we must work together to write a new chapter in this country’s efforts to end homelessness. One based on delivering affordable homes, improving person-centred and trauma informed support and preventing homelessness wherever possible.   

Co-Chair Paula Barker MP  

“I am delighted that the Vagrancy Act has finally been repealed by this Labour Government. I have been a broken record about the importance of this for years now. 

“The Vagrancy Act 1824, which criminalised rough sleeping, was a relic that has long needed to be consigned to the dustbin of history. Homelessness is not a crime, but a symptom of systemic failures. 

“There is a lot more to do when it comes to tackling the terrible barriers those experiencing homelessness face, but this is a great step in the right direction.” 

Co-Chairman Bob Blackman MP 

“I have long championed the abolition of the Vagrancy Act which marks an important step in how we address homelessness in this country. Introduced more than two centuries ago, the Act reflected a very different era and approach to social issues. While its original purpose may have been to tackle rough sleeping and begging, it is simply no longer appropriate to criminalise people simply for finding themselves without a home in modern Britain. 

Homelessness is a complex challenge that many people can experience through no fault of their own. By repealing the Vagrancy Act, we recognise that those sleeping rough are not criminals but often experiencing a range of difficulties including poor mental health, addiction, family breakdown and economic hardship. 

We must ensure that local authorities, charities, housing providers and support services have the resources they need to help people move away from rough sleeping and into stable accommodation. I authored the Homelessness Reduction Act in 2017, which has prevented nearly 2 million people from experiencing homelessness. Likewise, I pushed through the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023, ensuring communities and vulnerable individuals are protected from rogue landlords. 

The repeal of the Vagrancy Act makes clear that our focus should be on prevention and is an opportunity to modernise our approach and deliver better outcomes for individuals, communities and society as a whole.”