Charities have called it a ‘watershed moment’
The ban on sleeping on the streets and begging has been repealed from today as the 200-year-old Vagrancy Act is no longer in force. Originally introduced in 1824, the Vagrancy Act effectively made being homeless illegal.
The change is part of the Government’s National Plan to End Homelessness – backed by £3.6 billion over the next three years – which aims to halve long-term rough sleeping and end the unlawful use of B&Bs for families by the end of the Parliament. £39 billion is also being invested in social and affordable housing over the next ten years.
Housing Secretary Steve Reed 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 By repealing the outdated Vagrancy Act, we are shifting from punishment to prevention, alongside our investment to tackle homelessness for good .”
Homelessness minister Alison McGovern 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.
“Our Plan to End Homelessness will drive that change, helping more people off the streets and into the security of a permanent home.”
The Vagrancy Act was introduced in 1824 in response to rising homelessness following the Napoleonic Wars and Industrial Revolution. While its use has sharply declined, it is still sometimes used to move people on. The National Plan to End Homelessness includes a £159 million grant for supported housing, getting over 2,500 people across England off the streets and into more stable housing, as well as preventing people from getting onto the streets in the first place.
The upcoming Social Housing Bill will strengthen protections to victims of domestic abuse in social housing, helping to prevent homelessness – research shows that nearly 70% of women experiencing rough sleeping in 2025 had experienced domestic abuse.
There are already powers in place to tackle antisocial behaviour where it occurs, including under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. These are used where behaviour causes harassment or distress. Statutory guidance will be updated to ensure the powers are used appropriately.
Chief Executive of Crisis Matt Downie said: “This is a watershed moment which marks the end of a deeply cruel policy of criminalising people because they are homeless. For more than 200 years, the Vagrancy Act has punished people who have been forced to sleep on the streets. This has pushed people in already vulnerable situations away from support services and into the shadows for fear of being penalised. Now, after decades of charities campaigning alongside politicians, law enforcement and people with lived experience of homelessness, we can come together to celebrate the end of this archaic law.
“We commend the UK Government for standing up for what’s right and getting rid of a great injustice. We hope this sends a powerful message about the kind of society we want: one where people experiencing homelessness are not persecuted but supported to rebuild their lives and fulfil their potential.”
St Mungo’s CEO Emma Haddad said: “The repeal of the Vagrancy Act marks a defining moment in how society views and responds to people experiencing homelessness. For too long, the Act has criminalised people with nowhere safe to call home and reinforced stigma, rather than putting the focus on rebuilding lives.
“Our Outreach teams see every day how people can fall into homelessness when housing and support aren’t in place. When people are sleeping on a pavement, we know that the last thing they want or need is to be arrested. This makes it that much harder for people to access support – either because they have been pushed away from it or they choose not to access it due to distrust.
“This change marks an important shift towards a more humane approach – one that focuses on support, tackles root causes, and helps prevent homelessness. Effective delivery of the Government’s recently published National Plan to End Homelessness will hinge on doing exactly that.”
Chief Executive of Housing Justice, Bonnie Williams said: “Housing Justice welcomes the long overdue repeal of the Vagrancy Act. For more than 200 years the Act has been used to criminalise people who have no other option but to sleep on the streets. But we want the repeal of the Act to be more than symbolic, we want this to be part of a change in approach to supporting people off the streets.
“An approach that puts the emphasis on compassion, not condemnation, and recognises that homelessness does not truly end until a person has not only housing, but the relationships, community and belonging they need to thrive.”
CEO of Homeless Link, Rick Henderson 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. That this archaic law is finally being repealed is a credit to all those who have long campaigned for its removal, and to the leadership shown by this Government in finally scrapping the Act.
“Rough sleeping should never be a crime. It is a result of people being let down by the systems intended to support them. We hope that the repeal of the Vagrancy Act shows the Government’s ambition and intent to move away from a punitive, crisis led response towards one rooted in prevention, cross government responsibility and targeted support ensuring that everyone has a place to call home and the support they need to keep it.”
