Looking for P3 Housing Association?
Go to P3 Housing
Looking for P3 Housing Association?
Go to P3 Housing
For over two centuries, the Vagrancy Act criminalised rough sleeping in England and Wales. Now, after 202 years, the Government has finally repealed the law that began in 1824.
First introduced in the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars, the Vagrancy Act was designed to address concerns about “wandering persons” in society. The Act made it a criminal offence to sleep rough, beg or wander with the intent to beg in public places. It was designed to control poverty and perceived disorder, particularly during a time of significant social upheaval in Britain.
Despite its historical rhetoric, at least 425 people have been arrested under the act since July 2024, highlighting how a centuries-old injustice is still a pressing modern issue.
It comes as no surprise that charities supporting people facing homelessness have long fought against the Vagrancy Act.
Mark Simms OBE, P3 Charity’s CEO, said, “You should never need a criminal lawyer because you’ve lost your home. For more than 200 years we’ve responded to homelessness with suspicion instead of compassion, treating the symptom rather than the cause.
“The Vagrancy Act belonged to a different age. Repealing it finally recognises what charities like P3 have known for decades – homelessness isn’t a crime; it’s a societal failure and a political choice. The real question isn’t why someone is sleeping rough; it’s why we’ve allowed them to get there in the first place.”
Established in 1972, P3 Charity has worked across local communities all over England to support people facing homelessness, social exclusion and mental health challenges. From providing safe housing and emergency shelters to delivering tailored support and mental health services, P3 empowers individuals to rebuild their lives and regain independence.
Mark added, “Scrapping the Vagrancy Act is an important milestone, but it won’t, on its own, put a roof over anyone’s head. Every day we’re seeing more people pushed to the brink by the cost of living, rising rents, insecure work and a chronic shortage of genuinely affordable homes.
“Repealing an outdated law removes one barrier, but now we need to replace it with action – more genuinely affordable homes, earlier support and the political determination to stop homelessness happening in the first place. History will judge us not on the laws we repeal, but on whether fewer people end up sleeping on our streets.”
The Government’s latest Rough Sleeping Snapshot in 2025 revealed that the number of people estimated to be sleeping rough on a single night in autumn 2025 was 4,793. And this wasn’t confined to a single region — 51% of local authorities reported an increase in rough sleeping.
The Government has pledged to spend £3.6 billion over the next three years as part of its National Plan to End Homelessness, aiming to halve long-term rough sleeping and end the unlawful use of B&Bs for families.
Homelessness remains a deeply prevalent issue, but the repeal of the Vagrancy Act – alongside the Government’s pledge to invest in ending it – is a step in the right direction.
