Dear John,

People across the country are being fined, arrested and prosecuted simply for being homeless – take action now.

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 It’s time this out-of-date, out-of-touch law was scrapped.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.

Our new Government and Homelessness Minister, Luke Hall MP, must urgently turn their attention to scrapping the Vagrancy Act for good.

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

Our new Government and Homelessness Minister, Luke Hall MP, must urgently turn their attention to scrapping the Vagrancy Act for good.

Thank you for your support.

Sam Grant
Policy and Campaigns Manager

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