Rough sleeping to be decriminalised in England and Wales

The UK government plans to decriminalize rough sleeping by scrapping the Vagrancy Act, a law from 1824 that outlaws homelessness in England and Wales. By repealing this act, officials aim to address rising homelessness without criminalizing vulnerable individuals. The move, supported by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, seeks to end injustices and ensure no one faces prosecution simply for sleeping rough. The government's focus will shift to tackling organized begging by gangs and trespassing through new legislation while eliminating punitive measures against rough sleepers.