The Government has announced it will repeal the Vagrancy Act 1824 by spring next year, ending the criminalisation of rough sleeping in England and Wales.

The 200-year-old law, introduced in the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars and Industrial Revolution to target homelessness, is now considered outdated and unjust. Although its use has declined in recent years, it technically remains in force.

The repeal reflects a shift in approach — focusing on the root causes of homelessness rather than punishing those affected. The move comes alongside nearly £1 billion in government funding for homelessness services for 2025–26, including an additional £233 million this year.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner called the repeal “drawing a line under nearly two centuries of injustice,” adding, “No one should ever be criminalised simply for sleeping rough.”

Homelessness Minister Rushanara Ali added that the repeal represents a “historic shift” in how the country addresses rough sleeping, calling the 1824 law “neither just nor fit for purpose.”

While the Vagrancy Act will be scrapped, new legislation will give police tools to tackle genuine public safety concerns, such as organised begging and criminal trespassing. A new offence will target those who exploit vulnerable people through gang-led begging operations.

These changes are part of the Government’s broader Safe Streets Mission and its “Plan for Change,” aimed at both protecting communities and offering support to the most vulnerable.

A new cross-government homelessness strategy is expected later this year. Photo by Stephen McKay, Wikimedia commons.