Oxfordshire Homeless Movement
Repeal of the Vagrancy Act of 1824. Crisis UK Celebrates Landmark Campaign Victory.
12th June, 2025
OHM partner, Crisis UK, celebrates a landmark victory as the Government confirms the repeal of the Vagrancy Act of 1824.
Introduced over 200 years ago, the Act that criminalises rough sleeping, was introduced to deal with a rise in homelessness, after the Napoleonic Wars and Industrial Revolution.
On the 10th June, 2025 the government confirmed that they will be repealing the Act by Spring next year.
While use of the Act against rough sleeping has decreased over the years, it remains enforceable in law, which Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner describes as a "cruel and outdated law".
Crisis UK, who have been campaigning for a repeal of the Act since 2018, thanks supporters, campaigners, partners and charities for the success of this collective action.
"Now we can finally consign this outdated approach to homelessness to the history books and look ahead to a new chapter focusing on what really works to end homelessness."
Yvonne Pinner, Project Director of OHM, welcomed the news, "OHM have long supported this critically important campaign by Crisis. The repeal of this archaic Act is long-overdue and we support all of our partners and the roles that they play in the movement to end homelessness."
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