vagrancy act
'Shocking': Nearly 3,000 homeless people arrested under 200-year-old Vagrancy Act since 2021
![Vagrancy Act continues to punish rough sleepers](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/mario-scheibl-AznoXKnxAfY-unsplash.jpg?w=768)
'Shocking': Nearly 3,000 homeless people arrested under 200-year-old Vagrancy Act since 2021
The 200-year-old law remains in operation and criminalising rough sleepers despite a Tory promise to scrap it
This government failed to end rough sleeping – so now they're trying to police it out of existence
![The Criminal Justice Bill criminalises rough sleeping](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2241538810_ff59c1311f_o-2.jpg?w=768)
This government failed to end rough sleeping – so now they're trying to police it out of existence
Home Office whistleblower reveals 'shame' of working on 'crackpot Tory' plan to criminalise homelessness
![Criminal Justice Bill will criminalise 'nuisance rough sleeping and begging'](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/pexels-thom-gonzalez-10133572.jpg?w=768)
Home Office whistleblower reveals 'shame' of working on 'crackpot Tory' plan to criminalise homelessness
'People should not be arrested if they smell': Sunak facing revolt over plan to criminalise homelessness
'People should not be arrested if they smell': Sunak facing revolt over plan to criminalise homelessness
Tory plan to criminalise rough sleepers will 'destroy homeless people's spirits', MPs warned
Tory plan to criminalise rough sleepers will 'destroy homeless people's spirits', MPs warned
The Tories vowed to end rough sleeping by 2024. They failed. So where are we now?
![Rough sleeping in the Strand, London](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/1598_Paula-barker_shutterstock_editorial_14258377c.jpg?w=768)
The Tories vowed to end rough sleeping by 2024. They failed. So where are we now?
A McDonald's security guard soaking a homeless man's blanket exemplifies stigma rough sleepers face
![Homeless man argues with security guard mopping floor outside McDonald's restaurant in London](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/London-McDonalds-homeless-row-hero.jpg?w=768)
A McDonald's security guard soaking a homeless man's blanket exemplifies stigma rough sleepers face
Vagrancy Act 2.0? The Criminal Justice Bill must not be allowed to make rough sleeping illegal
![Layla Moran on Criminal Justice Bill, Vagrancy Act and rough sleeping](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Layla_Moran_at_Brighton_2018.jpg?w=768)
Vagrancy Act 2.0? The Criminal Justice Bill must not be allowed to make rough sleeping illegal
Has Manchester found an innovative way to tackle begging?
![Manchester street engagement hub set up to tackle begging](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Mayor-visits-jpg.webp?w=768)
Has Manchester found an innovative way to tackle begging?
The fight is on to ensure the Vagrancy Act stays dead
![police vagrancy act](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/king-s-church-international-3mjspmQDM_M-unsplash.jpg?w=768)
The fight is on to ensure the Vagrancy Act stays dead
Homeless people are being ‘disproportionately criminalised’ by anti-social behaviour laws
![homeless public spaces protection orders](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/49439491046_b71c205430_k.jpg?w=768)
Homeless people are being ‘disproportionately criminalised’ by anti-social behaviour laws
Eviction ban needed to prevent rough sleeping 'catastrophe', government told
![rough sleeper experiencing homelessness in London](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/5074919591_4c6375e608_o-1-e1663687638459.jpg?w=768)
Eviction ban needed to prevent rough sleeping 'catastrophe', government told
Remember all those controversial laws that were passed? Many of them just came into force
![government introducing new laws](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/52145876803_906b9a11a1_o.jpg?w=768)
Remember all those controversial laws that were passed? Many of them just came into force
Government faces rebellion after backtracking on plans to scrap Vagrancy Act laws
![vagrancy act](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/48663821431_57500a83bf_k.jpg?w=768)
Government faces rebellion after backtracking on plans to scrap Vagrancy Act laws
Police forced to scrap order that banned a homeless man from carrying a cup
![homeless tent](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/mikel-parera-nmYoZw-yK4c-unsplash.jpg?w=768)
Police forced to scrap order that banned a homeless man from carrying a cup
The government already has the perfect replacement for the Vagrancy Act – nothing at all
![Vagrancy Act](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/pexels-brett-sayles-6960985-1.jpg?w=768)
The government already has the perfect replacement for the Vagrancy Act – nothing at all
Rough sleepers are being offered legal advice to protect against 'misused' police powers
![rough sleepers legal advice](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/340988337_5be3d67a27_o.jpg?w=768)
Rough sleepers are being offered legal advice to protect against 'misused' police powers
Why the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill is the perfect opportunity to axe the Vagrancy Act
![The Vagrancy Act will be axed in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/gustavo-sanchez-Flv51Lt6ZG4-unsplash.jpg?w=768)
Why the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill is the perfect opportunity to axe the Vagrancy Act
Robert Jenrick: Conservatives got it 'wrong' on rough sleeping
![Robert Jenrick on rough sleeping](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Robert-Jenrick-hero-Flickr.jpg?w=768)
Robert Jenrick: Conservatives got it 'wrong' on rough sleeping
Scrapping the Vagrancy Act is just the start – now we must end rough sleeping for good
![vagrancy act rough sleeping](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/ev-IWJH-l-vb4k-unsplash-2.jpg?w=768)
Scrapping the Vagrancy Act is just the start – now we must end rough sleeping for good
The 'archaic' Vagrancy Act is officially being scrapped after 200 years
![vagrancy act rough sleeping](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/dan-burton-w3TwyZMlfPg-unsplash.jpg?w=768)
The 'archaic' Vagrancy Act is officially being scrapped after 200 years
Peers vote to scrap the Vagrancy Act in controversial government bill
![vagrancy act rough sleeping](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/dan-burton-w3TwyZMlfPg-unsplash.jpg?w=768)
Peers vote to scrap the Vagrancy Act in controversial government bill
Government blocks bid to scrap 200-year-old law that criminalises rough sleeping
![vagrancy act](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/ethan-wilkinson-UJdx3XM3xao-unsplash.jpg?w=768)