Dear John,

People across the country are being cruelly arrested and fined simply for being homeless – but we can stop this now.

Karl Smith was arrested in 2008 for asking someone for 20p to make a phone call. He was fined before being sent straight back onto the street. 

He wasn’t offered any actual help. The 200-year old Vagrancy Act which led to his arrest doesn’t allow for that. 

Instead, if you’re homeless, this out-of-date law puts the onus on you to magically turn your fortunes around or face punishment. 

Fining people for being poor just keeps them poor. A speedy criminal record does not provide a route off the streets. But in just the last five years 8,500 people have been arrested for trying to survive. 

The Vagrancy Act must be scrapped. Please sign Karl’s petition today.

While the Act remains in place it will continue to be used to penalise rough sleepers. So let’s get this ancient, compassionless law off the books.

If you care about ending homelessness, please sign Karl’s petition to scrap the Vagrancy Act.

Thank you for your support.

Sam Grant
Policy and Campaigns Manager

PS – Karl’s petition is being hosted by Change.org. By adding your name, your data will be covered by Change.org’s privacy policy.

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