Vagrancy Act Repeal Ends Rough Sleeping Criminalisation

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, with Housing Secretary Steve Reed and Homelessness Minister Alison McGovern, will repeal the Vagrancy Act on Monday 29 June 2026, ending a law introduced in 1824 that criminalised rough sleeping and begging.

The repeal applies in England and forms part of the government’s wider approach to homelessness, rough sleeping and housing support. Ministers said the Act has been used to punish people for not having a home, while making it harder for vulnerable people to access help.

The government also reminded the public to use StreetLink to alert local authorities if someone sleeping rough requires support, particularly during periods of extreme weather.

Vagrancy Act Repeal Ends Criminalisation

The government said the repeal will end nearly two centuries of legislation that treated rough sleeping and begging as criminal matters. Ministers said the change shifts the response away from punishment and towards prevention, support and long-term housing routes.

The Vagrancy Act has sharply declined in use, but the department said it can still be used to move people on instead of addressing the causes of homelessness. The repeal removes that legal route while leaving separate powers in place for behaviour that causes harassment or distress.

• Repeal date: Monday 29 June 2026.
• Original law: The Vagrancy Act was introduced in 1824.
• Policy shift: The focus moves from criminalisation to support.

Why The 1824 Law Is Being Repealed

The department said the Act was introduced after the Napoleonic Wars and the Industrial Revolution, when homelessness had increased. It said the law has since been found to punish people simply because they do not have a home.

Ministers said this approach pushed vulnerable people away from services, increased the risk of fines or criminal records and made it harder for people to rebuild their lives. The repeal is presented as part of a broader move to address causes of homelessness rather than manage rough sleeping through criminal enforcement.

Vagrancy Act Repeal Summary

Homelessness Plan And Housing Investment

The repeal forms part of the government’s National Plan to End Homelessness, which combines legal reform with investment in homelessness prevention, supported housing and affordable homes. Ministers said the programme is intended to reduce long-term rough sleeping while increasing access to stable housing.

Housing And Homelessness Measures

Preventing Homelessness Before Crisis

The National Plan to End Homelessness includes funding for supported housing, local prevention work and targeted programmes in areas facing the greatest long-term rough sleeping pressures. The department said a £159 million grant is helping more than 2,500 people across England move off the streets or avoid rough sleeping.

The plan also sets targets for people leaving public institutions, including halving the number who become homeless on their first night after prison. Ministers said no eligible person should be discharged to the street after a hospital stay, with a longer-term ambition that no one is made homeless from a public institution.

• Community support: £37 million supports voluntary, community and faith groups.
• Innovation programme: £15 million targets 28 areas with long-term rough sleeping pressure.
• Temporary accommodation: £950 million supports better-quality accommodation supply.

The government also linked the reforms to domestic abuse policy. It said the forthcoming Social Housing Bill will strengthen protections for domestic abuse victims after research found nearly 70% of women experiencing rough sleeping in 2025 had experienced domestic abuse since the age of 16.

Public Safety And Organised Crime Powers

Ministers said repealing the Vagrancy Act will not remove powers to deal with criminal or antisocial behaviour. Existing legislation will continue to cover conduct that causes harassment or distress, while new offences target organised criminal exploitation rather than homelessness itself.

Ministers also said the government will continue to take a tough stance on organised crime. New offences in the Crime and Policing Act 2026 will target organised begging gangs, exploitation for financial gain and trespass linked to criminal activity.

Stakeholder Comments

Ministerial Comments

Steve Reed, Housing Secretary said;

“Homeless people are not criminals, they are people who need help. By repealing the outdated Vagrancy Act, we are shifting from punishment to prevention, alongside our investment to tackle homelessness for good.”

Alison McGovern, Homelessness Minister said;

“Repealing the Vagrancy Act is a long-overdue step that reflects a modern understanding of homelessness. We are turning our backs on a centuries old approach and instead focusing our attention on what works through providing support, preventing homelessness, and helping people rebuild their lives.”

Charity And Sector Comments

Matt Downie, Chief Executive of Crisis said;

“This is a watershed moment which marks the end of a deeply cruel policy of criminalising people because they are homeless.”

Rick Henderson, CEO of Homeless Link said;

“This is truly a landmark moment that will change the lives of the many people at risk of being criminalised simply for seeking somewhere safe to sleep.”

The repeal of the Vagrancy Act shifts England’s approach to rough sleeping away from criminal enforcement and towards homelessness prevention, housing support and early intervention. Existing powers against antisocial behaviour and organised criminal exploitation will remain in place as the government expands its wider homelessness programme.

Sources: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Alison McGovern MP and The Rt Hon Steve Reed OBE MP.

Prepared by Ivan Alexander Golden, Founder of THX News, an independent news organisation delivering timely insights from global official sources. Combines AI-analysed research with human-edited accuracy and context.