Rough sleeping and begging are no longer criminal offences, following the repeal of the Vagrancy Act 1824.

The government confirmed that the Act would be repealed on Monday 29 June 2026, ending legislation that has been in place for more than 200 years and has long been criticised for criminalising people experiencing homelessness.

Originally introduced in 1824, the Vagrancy Act made it possible for people to be prosecuted for rough sleeping or begging. Ministers said its repeal marks a shift away from punishment and towards prevention, support and long-term solutions.

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 By repealing the outdated Vagrancy Act, we are shifting from punishment to prevention, alongside our investment to tackle homelessness for good.”

The change forms part of the government’s wider National Plan to End Homelessness, backed by £3.6bn over the next three years. The plan includes ambitions to halve long-term rough sleeping and end the unlawful use of bed and breakfast accommodation for families by the end of this Parliament.

The government has also highlighted wider housing measures, including £39bn over ten years for social and affordable housing, alongside investment in temporary accommodation, supported housing and homelessness prevention.

Homelessness Minister Alison McGovern described the repeal as “a long-overdue step that reflects a modern understanding of homelessness”.

She said the government was moving away from “a centuries old approach” and focusing instead on “providing support, preventing homelessness, and helping people rebuild their lives”.

Sector charities welcomed the move, while stressing that repeal must be matched by effective support on the ground.

Matt Downie, chief executive of Crisis, described it as “a watershed moment” and said the Act had pushed vulnerable people “away from support services and into the shadows”.

St Mungo’s chief executive Emma Haddad said the repeal marked “a defining moment in how society views and responds to people experiencing homelessness”, adding that people sleeping rough need access to support, not arrest.

Housing Justice and Homeless Link also welcomed the change, calling for the repeal to be part of a wider move towards prevention, compassion and joined-up support.

For housing providers, councils and frontline homelessness services, the repeal is significant both symbolically and practically. It reinforces the need for local responses that focus on early intervention, outreach, partnership working and routes into safe, settled accommodation.

The government said existing powers remain available to tackle antisocial behaviour where it causes harassment or distress, but stressed these should not be used simply because someone is homeless. Statutory guidance will be updated to support appropriate use of those powers.