The Vagrancy Act 1824 is a piece of legislation that makes it a criminal offence to sleep rough or beg in England and Wales. It was passed 200 years ago in response to increasing numbers of people experiencing homelessness and poverty.
Punishing people simply for not having a home has no place in 21st century Britain. The UK Parliament voted to repeal the Act in 2022.
But almost three years later, repeal has not yet been fully implemented, which means the Vagrancy Act is still in force.
Police in England and Wales are still able to issue fines of up to £1,000 or prosecute people who are begging or rough sleeping. This is unacceptable.
Since 1824, the Vagrancy Act has made it a crime just to sleep rough or beg in England and Wales.
Criminalisation does nothing to resolve the root causes of homelessness. In fact, it's more likely to push someone further away from the vital services that help them to move away from the streets.
Rough sleeping is the most dangerous form of homelessness.
It is unjustifiable that people who are forced to sleep on the streets, seeking safety on night buses or in doorways, could be fined or prosecuted just for trying to stay safe.
Thanks to our campaigning and your actions, Westminster voted to repeal the Act in 2022. But the repeal has not yet been fully implemented, meaning the Act is still in force.
The outdated and cruel Vagrancy Act must be fully repealed without new laws that criminalise people who are homeless.
"It's outrageous. Appalling."
"A poor reflection on society."
Watch the reaction of Crisis at Christmas guests and volunteers to finding out about the Vagrancy Act - the centuries-old law that criminalised rough sleeping.
This report, published in 2019 looks at the case for repealing the Vagrancy Act 1824 in England and Wales.
If you'd like your organisation to be named as a campaign supporter on this page, please get in touch.
