[[link removed]]Dear John,

People across the country are being fined, arrested and prosecuted simply for
being homeless – take action now
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Police forces across England and Wales are still using the Vagrancy Act to
prosecute people for begging and rough sleeping.

This law came into force in 1824 – less than 10 years after the Napoleonic Wars
and a decade before the British Empire abolished slavery. It even predates the
formation of the police who enforce it.

But research from Crisis shows that thousands of people have been charged under
the Vagrancy Act over the last few years – and more than 20,000 since 2008.

Homelessness is caused by complex social issues which cannot possibly be solved
by criminal sanctions. It’s time this out-of-date, out-of-touch law was
scrapped.

Theresa May’s Government promised to review it. This was never good enough, but
does show Westminster’s willingness to engage.

Now we have a new Government and a new Homelessness Minister who must urgently
turn their attention to scrapping the Vagrancy Act for good.



TAKE ACTION NOW →
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Fining and giving criminal records to people who have nothing is at best
counterproductive. At worst it’s cruel.

Use our quick and easy tool today to email your MP, asking them to alert the new
Homelessness Minister to this critical – but easily fixed – issue.

Thank you for your support.

Sam Grant
Policy and Campaigns Manager

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