UK government has announced plans to decriminalise rough sleeping in England

The UK government has announced plans to decriminalise rough sleeping in England and Wales by abolishing the 200-year-old Vagrancy Act.

The law, introduced in 1824 to address the issue of homelessness, is considered by many to be out of date and punitive. The move follows criticism from homeless charities and campaigners who argue that criminalizing rough sleeping does not address the underlying causes of homelessness and can lead to a cycle of vulnerability and punishment for those affected.

Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner called the law "cruel and outdated," emphasizing that no one should be prosecuted solely for being homeless. Instead of relying on this historical legislation, the government plans to introduce new measures to tackle organised begging and ensure police have the necessary powers to address community safety issues without criminalizing the homeless.

These new measures will be included in the Crime and Policing Bill and are set to replace the Vagrancy Act with more targeted offenses such as facilitating begging for gain and trespassing with intent to commit a crime. The number of prosecutions and convictions under the act has decreased over the past decade, with 79 prosecutions and 59 convictions related to rough sleeping recorded in 2023.

The previous Conservative government had also acknowledged the need for change and proposed the Criminal Justice Bill, which aimed to allow police to move on rough sleepers and impose fines. However, this did not come into effect before the general election.

The announcement has been welcomed by organizations such as Crisis, which advocates for homeless people. Their Chief Executive, Matt Downie, called it a "landmark moment" and thanked the government for "showing principled leadership."

This development represents a shift in policy towards addressing the root causes of homelessness rather than penalizing individuals for their circumstances. It is hoped that by decriminalizing rough sleeping, more resources can be directed towards providing support and housing solutions for those in need.

Source @BBC