Rough sleeping no longer a crime in England and Wales
Reported byLBC ↗·Sourced by Goodlede
The 200-year-old Vagrancy Act, which criminalized rough sleeping and homelessness since 1824, will be repealed on Monday under new legislation. The Housing Secretary framed the move as shifting 'from punishment to prevention' in tackling the estimated 13,000 individuals sleeping rough annually on London's streets.
Decriminalization alone does not guarantee housing or services; implementation of prevention-focused alternatives remains essential.
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