This week, the UK government announced a move that’s long been called for: scrapping the Vagrancy Act 1824 so that sleeping rough and begging are no longer criminal offences in England and Wales. This isn’t a small change—it’s nearly three centuries of outdated thinking finally being put to rest, and hopefully paving the way for a more compassionate, constructive response to homelessness. The Times reported the move as a turning point in how Britain treats some of its most vulnerable people.
Since the Act was passed almost 200 years ago, rough sleepers and anyone found begging could be arrested, fined or even jailed for simply being visible in public. In modern times, the law has rarely been used—but that hasn’t stopped it from hanging over people’s heads. With the government’s announcement, rough sleeping will finally be stripped of its criminal label—of stigma and threat—and reframed as a matter of human dignity rather than law enforcement.
The move was championed by Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner, who said the change would help “right a historical wrong.” Homelessness charities were quick to praise the decision: Crisis called it a “landmark moment,” while St Mungo’s urged the government to ensure that any new laws focus on exploitative begging gangs—not people simply trying to survive.
The Vagrancy Act will officially be removed once the Crime and Policing Bill is updated—expected by spring 2026.
In its place will come new, narrowly defined offences targeting genuinely harmful actions, like aggressive begging, trespassing, and exploitation by organised crime. In short, behaviour that endangers others or exploits vulnerable people remains punishable—but rough sleeping itself will no longer be treated as a crime.
This is about more than legal definitions. For years, rough sleepers have been caught in a catch-22. Unable to find secure shelter, they sleep outdoors. But simply being outdoors put them at risk of arrest or being moved along. Removing the threat of prosecution may not fix everything, but it creates space for real help to be offered and accepted.
The pandemic showed what’s possible. The government’s “Everyone In” programme, launched in early 2020, provided emergency accommodation for thousands of people who were sleeping rough. According to the National Audit Office, it helped prevent a major public health crisis among the homeless population. Many organisations now argue that the same urgency and compassion should continue post-pandemic.
But this legal shift also raises a fair concern: what replaces the Vagrancy Act can’t just be a modern version with the same punitive instincts. Homeless Link welcomed the repeal, but warned that any new enforcement tools must be tightly controlled and clearly targeted. The worry is that local authorities might still resort to fines or dispersal orders if they lack the resources or will to address homelessness properly.
The data paints a stark picture.
Rough sleeping in England has been on the rise. According to the latest CHAIN report, almost 12,000 people were seen sleeping rough in London alone in 2023–24—a troubling 58% rise since 2021. Behind every figure is a person navigating complex trauma, poverty, ill health or addiction—and increasingly, those factors are overlapping.
The Vagrancy Act’s removal won’t solve the housing crisis, but it does remove a harmful barrier. It allows people to ask for help without fear of arrest. It signals to councils and services that the focus should shift from punishment to support. It also puts pressure on local authorities to work with outreach teams, housing providers, and health services in a coordinated way.
Tools like StreetLink already allow the public to report someone sleeping rough so that local support services can follow up. But the success of that system depends on the resources available to local teams, and the willingness of councils to prioritise long-term solutions over short-term appearances.
Scotland repealed its version of the Vagrancy Act back in 1982, and many campaigners have asked why it took so long for England and Wales to catch up. Still, now that the moment is here, there’s a sense that it could mark a shift in how homelessness is handled—not as a nuisance to be moved along, but as a human crisis that deserves attention and care.
The government has pledged £233 million for rough sleeping services in 2025–26 as part of its overall £1 billion package aimed at ending rough sleeping. But money alone isn’t enough. It needs to be spent well—on housing-first schemes, trauma-informed care, mental health support, and addiction services that are accessible and properly staffed. Without those pieces in place, the repeal risks being symbolic, not substantial.
It also matters that the repeal comes at a time when people are struggling with the cost of living, high rents, and squeezed public services. A sudden illness, job loss or relationship breakdown can still tip people into homelessness with alarming speed. And once someone ends up on the streets, the path back can be long and painful. Removing criminalisation doesn’t make that journey easier on its own, but it removes one obstacle from the way.
Let’s not forget: nobody chooses to sleep on the street.
It’s not a lifestyle; it’s usually a last resort. And for far too long, our legal system treated it as a public offence instead of a cry for help. With this week’s announcement, that outdated mindset is finally being left behind.
Now comes the real work: making sure support is available, effective, and delivered with respect. This is an opportunity to turn a legal reform into real change. To go from punishment to prevention. And to say, clearly and collectively, that we want a country where nobody is forced to sleep outside—and where those who do are met with support, not suspicion.