Vagrancy Act: Labour promised to decriminalise rough sleeping in spring – so when will it happen?

The Vagrancy Act 1824 is now at the ripe old age of 202 years old but it’s still not quite dead.

The ancient act, originally introduced to deal with soldiers returning from the Napoleonic wars, is largely derided for criminalising rough sleeping and begging.

Frontline homelessness groups argue that making being homeless on the streets a criminal offence does little to address the reasons why someone is rough sleeping in the first place and risks driving them away from support.

It’s been a year since the Labour government vowed finally to scrap the act for good, promising it will be consigned to history in spring 2026.

Then-deputy prime minister Angela Rayner said the move would “draw a line under nearly two centuries of injustice towards some of the most vulnerable in society”.

With spring now well and truly in the rear mirror, Big Issue asked the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government where the Vagrancy Act ban is up to.

We were told that axing the ban remains a priority and “a timeline would be released very soon”.

Read more:

• The fight is on to ensure the Vagrancy Act stays dead
• It’s 1,000 days since Vagrancy Act was repealed – so why are rough sleepers still criminalised?
• Government faces rebellion after backtracking on plans to scrap Vagrancy Act laws

The long road to removing the Vagrancy Act has now rumbled on for five years. Then-Conservative housing
secretary Robert Jenrick first promised that the act would be repealed back in February 2021.

That happened with the commencement of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022.

But there’s a catch. The Vagrancy Act remains in force until it is replaced. This has proven divisive: many homelessness charities and campaigners argue that the act is little used by police and does need replacement legislation.

But both Labour and Conservative governments have pledged to take action on antisocial behaviour, including
aggressive begging.

It remains to be seen when the current Labour government delivers on its promise to scrap the act for good. Big Issue will keep holding ministers to account until the cruel, outdated law is history.

Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this? Get in touch and tell us more. 

Change a vendor’s life.

Buy from your local Big Issue vendor every week – and always take the magazine. It’s how vendors earn with dignity and move forward.

You can also support online:
Subscribe to the magazine or support our work with a monthly gift. Your support helps vendors earn, learn and thrive while strengthening our frontline services.

Thank you for standing with Big Issue vendors.