The press release issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on 28 June 2026.
The government will repeal the Vagrancy Act on Monday 29 June 2026, ending nearly two centuries of legislation that has criminalised rough sleeping and begging.
The government will repeal the Vagrancy Act tomorrow (Monday 29 June), bringing an end to nearly two centuries of legislation that has criminalised rough sleeping and begging.
Originally introduced in 1824, the Vagrancy Act has been found to punish people simply for not having a home. As a result, it has pushed vulnerable people away from support, increased the risk of fines or criminal records and made it harder for people to rebuild their lives.
Repealing the Act is a vital step in ending a system that has failed to address the causes of rough sleeping and in shifting the focus towards prevention, support and long-term solutions.
This sits at the heart of the National Plan to End Homelessness – backed by £3.6 billion over the next three years – which aims to halve long-term rough sleeping and end the unlawful use of B&Bs for families by the end of the Parliament.
Alongside this, the government is delivering the biggest long-term investment in social and affordable housing in a generation – £39 billion over the next ten years – providing the homes people need. Recent figures show social and affordable housing starts are up 35% since 2024 and completions have risen again this year.
Following a week of record temperatures, the public are also being reminded of the Streetlink alert system to notify their local authority of anyone who is rough sleeping and in need of support.
Housing Secretary Steve Reed said:
Homeless people are not criminals, they are people who need help.
By repealing the outdated Vagrancy Act, we are shifting from punishment to prevention, alongside our investment to tackle homelessness for good.
Homelessness Minister Alison McGovern said:
Repealing the Vagrancy Act is a long-overdue step that reflects a modern understanding of homelessness.
We are turning our backs on a centuries old approach and instead focusing our attention on what works through providing support, preventing homelessness, and helping people rebuild their lives.
Our Plan to End Homelessness will drive that change, helping more people off the streets and into the security of a permanent home.
The Vagrancy Act was introduced in 1824 in response to rising homelessness following the Napoleonic Wars and Industrial Revolution. While its use has sharply declined, it is still sometimes used to move people on instead of addressing the root causes of a person’s homelessness.
The National Plan to End Homelessness rewires the system to focus support where it’s needed most. This includes:
- A £159 million grant for supported housing is getting over 2,500 people across England off the streets and into more stable housing, as well as preventing those from getting onto the streets in the first place.
- Setting clear targets for halving the number who become homeless on their first night out of prison and that no eligible person is discharged to the street after a hospital stay.
- It also sets a clear long-term ambition that no one should be made homeless from a public institution.
The upcoming Social Housing Bill will strengthen protections to victims of domestic abuse in social housing, helping to prevent homelessness – research shows that nearly 70% of women experiencing rough sleeping in 2025 had experienced domestic abuse since the age of 16.
There are already powers in place to tackle antisocial behaviour where it occurs, including under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. These are used where behaviour causes harassment or distress – not for simply being homeless. Statutory guidance will be updated to ensure these powers are used appropriately.
The government will continue to take a tough stance on organised crime. New offences in the Crime and Policing Act 2026 will target organised begging gangs, those who exploit others for financial gain, and trespass linked to criminal activity.