Decision to scrap rough sleeping law 'long-overdue'

The government's "long-overdue" decision to scrap a law criminalising rough sleeping has been welcomed by charities and formerly homeless people in the south.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner called the Vagrancy Act "cruel and outdated" and said Labour would target organised begging by gangs instead.

A Southampton charity welcomed the change and said the focus should be on "prevention, housing-led solutions, and genuine support".

Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones said funding should be made available to tackle underlying mental health issues.

Figures from Southampton City Council show the average number of people rough sleeping on a single night in Southampton between 2010 and 2022 was 20.

And in Autumn 2023, the government released figures that showed 46 people in Oxford were sleeping rough on a single night.

In the same year, for 17 out of 43 police forces in England and Wales, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) did not prosecute at all using the Vagrancy Act.

Vince, from Southampton, is now securely housed, but was formerly homeless.

He said he was not aware at the time that he could be prosecuted for rough sleeping.

"Even if I had known, I was most worried about being robbed or assaulted, and staying warm and dry," he said.

"I think [the announcement] is a step in the right direction, but it doesn't address the lack of available housing, or how dangerous it can be to sleep rough."

Layla Moran, Lib Dem MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, who campaigned for the act to be repealed, said she felt "pure joy" at the news.

"I can finally say that after seven years of dogged campaigning, this cruel and archaic law will be consigned to the history books," she said.

"It is not and should never have been acceptable to view homelessness as a crime."

Chief executive of the Society of St. James, a Southampton-based homelessness charity, Tania Marsh called the move "long-overdue".

But she also cautioned against any possible "unintended consequences" of new legislation.

"It is vital that any new legislation is carefully designed to avoid criminalising individuals pushed into street homelessness," she said.

"Our focus must remain on providing robust strategies that prioritise prevention, housing-led solutions, and genuine support for everyone experiencing homelessness in our community."

Ms Jones told BBC Radio Solent on Wednesday she welcomed the act being repealed, but added: "We must make sure we don't slip back to high streets across the south being full up with people who are sleeping homeless."

She said during her time as leader of Portsmouth City Council from 2014 to 2018, the act had been useful in helping to tackle anti-social behaviour associated with temporary shelters.

The Vagrancy Act was originally introduced in 1824 in response to rising homelessness and is expected to be repealed by spring next year.

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