UK Government to Abolish Vagrancy Act on Monday

The UK Government will formally abolish the Vagrancy Act on Monday, ending criminal penalties for rough sleeping that have stood since 1824. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government confirmed the repeal will occur through secondary legislation. Housing Secretary Steve Reed said the change shifts policy from punishment to support.

"Homeless people are not criminals, they are people who need help," Reed stated. " Conservative ministers pledged repeal in 2022 but delayed action until alternative measures were enacted. The repeal takes effect after the Crime and Policing Act, passed in April, created new offences targeting organised begging and criminal exploitation rather than homelessness itself.

Those measures include powers against individuals who facilitate begging for financial gain and against trespassers intending to commit crimes. Ministers said the framework preserves police tools for anti-social behaviour while removing penalties for sleeping rough. In March 2026, 7,541 people were estimated to be sleeping rough in England.

Emma Haddad, chief executive of St Mungo's, described it as "an important shift towards a more humane approach" that tackles root causes. Bonnie Williams, chief executive of Housing Justice, said the step should form part of broader efforts to move people off the streets through housing and community support.