Homeless charity praises change to 200-year-old law

Decriminalising a 200-year-old law making rough sleeping an offence is "long-overdue", a charity has said.

The government confirmed it would scrap the Vagrancy Act by spring 2026 and instead target organised begging gangs and trespassing.

The archaic law was introduced in 1824 to deal with rising homelessness after the Napoleonic Wars and Industrial Revolution.

Melissa Blewitt, from homeless charity Maggs Day Centre in Worcester, said the end of the act was "a long-overdue and symbolic step towards breaking the stigma around rough sleeping".

"For far too long, people facing homelessness have been treated as criminals simply for being in crisis - as though having nowhere to go is a choice that deserves punishment," she said.

"Being without a home is already dehumanising. Being criminalised on top of that only adds shame and fear.

"While this repeal won't solve homelessness overnight, it matters deeply."

The centre supports homeless people through its day centres, clothing project and outreach teams.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said it would boost funding for homelessness services by an extra £233m this financial year, bringing total investment for 2025-26 to nearly £1bn.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said: "We are drawing a line under nearly two centuries of injustice towards some of the most vulnerable in society, who deserve dignity and support.

"No-one should ever be criminalised simply for sleeping rough and by scrapping this cruel and outdated law, we are making sure that can never happen again."

In December, Worcester City Council was given extra funding to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping in the city.

Council leader Lynn Denham welcomed the increase, which took funding to £1.18m for the 2025/26 financial year.

"Reducing homelessness is an absolute priority for the city council," she said.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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