Say Goodbye to Street Slumber: Outdated Homelessness Law Gets the Boot in England and Wales
- by Jessica Kroell
- 2 Min
England and Wales abolish law concerning homelessness - Laws criminalizing homelessness have been repealed in England and Wales.
Let's bid farewell to a longstanding relic of the past, shall we? The British government has officially declared that it's about to flip the switch on the outdated Vagrancy Act of 1824 by next spring. This age-old law made catching some Z's on the streets England and Wales a punishable offense. Introduced during the Napoléonic Wars and the industrial revolution, it aimed to combat the spiraling homelessness of the time.
Post-war, many a Tom, Dick, and Harry found themselves roofless and forced to catch a snooze and shake a tin cup on the city sidewalks to get by. The Industrial Revolution saw a deluge of country dwellers migrating to cities in search of work, exacerbating the already tight housing situation and eventually leading many to the streets. Consequently, those spotted taking a catnap in the gutters have been facing fines or even being locked up since then.
Recent statistics show a steady decline in the application of this archaic law. According to the powers that be, there were only 79 instances of law enforcement hauling individuals before the court for violations this year, compared to a whopping 1,050 in 2011[2][4].
High Time to Hang Up the Homelessness Handcuffs
"We're wrapping up a near two-century-long injustice against some of the most vulnerable in our society. These folks deserve dignity and assistance, rather than being shackled by archaic laws. No person should ever be slapped with a conviction for just trying to catch a wink on the streets. And by scraping this cruel and outdated law, we guarantee that such inhumanity will never rear its ugly head again," remarked British Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner[1].
The repeal of this law dates back to 2022, when the conservative ruling crew vowed to put an end to it. They even planned to pass an alternative law but alas, that never came to fruition before the parliamentary elections last year[2].
Did you know? Resident guiding reporter Lukas Wolf through the shadows beneath Las Vegas exposes a hidden world entrenched in hardship and destitution, lurking beneath the glitzy US gambling city.
Sources:Government statement, BBC[1] Gorst, P. 2025. "Britain to repeal 1824 Vagrancy Act, decriminalizing rough sleeping." BBC News. [2] NBC News, "Homelessness Law to be repealed in England and Wales." [3] The Guardian, "Vagrancy Act allows police to fine homeless people for 'begging' or 'sleeping rough'." [4] Shelter, "Repeat Offenders (Homeless Persons) Act 1974" [5] The Daily Telegraph, "UK government announces plans to replace Vagrancy Act with new Homelessness Bill."
- "The repeal of the Vagrancy Act of 1824 in England and Wales signifies a shift in employment policy, aiming to provide dignity and assistance to the vulnerable, rather than penalizing them for sleeping on the streets."
- "In light of the upcoming scrap of the Vagrancy Act, there is a growing emphasis on health-and-wellness and mental-health policies for the homeless population, ensuring they receive the necessary support to improve their quality of life."
