LONDON DAILY ARCHIVE

UK Repeals Vagrancy Act Ending Criminalisation of Rough Sleeping in England and Wales

The government has formally repealed the Vagrancy Act of 1824, bringing to an end nearly two centuries of legislation that criminalised rough sleeping and begging in England and Wales. The change takes effect on 29 June 2026 and marks a shift in policy away from punitive enforcement towards support-based services for people experiencing homelessness.

28 June 2026 · 22:50 UTC