The United Kingdom is set to repeal a law from the Georgian era that criminalizes the act of “rough sleeping,” according to an announcement by the UK government. The move seeks to address what Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner describes as “nearly two centuries of injustice.” This development, confirmed in an official statement, aims to abolish the old statute by the spring of next year.
The legislation up for repeal is the Vagrancy Act of 1824, which came into being following the Napoleonic Wars and the Industrial Revolution, as homelessness rates rose. It allows for the arrest and punishment, including fines up to £1,000 and sometimes imprisonment, of individuals found sleeping rough or begging.
JURIST reports that the UK Parliament had already voted to repeal the act in April 2022. However, the legal process was delayed pending the introduction of replacement legislation. Since that vote, 177 people have been arrested under the outdated law, according to figures from the Single Homeless Project, a UK charity.
The Minister for Homelessness, Rushanara Ali, echoed sentiments that the act was outdated, emphasizing a shift in government efforts to tackle the underlying causes of homelessness. In conjunction with repealing the Vagrancy Act, the government plans to introduce new offenses aimed at curbing organized begging by criminal gangs. Furthermore, an additional £233 million has been earmarked for homelessness services this financial year.
Organizations such as Crisis and St Mungo’s have welcomed the repeal. Emma Haddad, CEO of St Mungo’s, noted that the focus should be on addressing the root causes of homelessness rather than criminalizing the condition.