Finally, rough sleeping will be decriminalised in England and Wales after 200 years

While punishments are rare, charities have praised the choice to repeal the "cruel and outdated" law

The Labour government has announced that rough sleeping will be officially decriminalised in 2026. The Vagrancy Act, first introduced in 1824, has remained enforceable by law ever since across England and Wales, although Scotland successfully repealed it in 1982.

While punishments can range from a fine to up to six months in prison, prosecutions have become increasingly rare. Statistics from 2023 showed only 79 prosecutions and 59 convictions for offences related to rough sleeping, a decrease from 1,050 prosecutions and 810 convictions in 2011.

The impact of rough sleeping

Extended periods of rough sleeping can profoundly impact a person's wellbeing. According to homelessness charity Crisis, the longer someone experiences rough sleeping, the more likely they are to develop additional mental and physical health needs, substance misuse issues, and have contact with the criminal justice system.

The charity also notes that some mental health services will not carry out assessments on the street, making it difficult for people who are sleeping rough to access the support they need.

Homelessness makes employment considerably harder to achieve, with everyday activities such as eating, commuting, sleeping, and personal hygiene far more difficult.

Government response and investment

Statistics released just months ago show that rough sleeping numbers in England have reached 4,667 – a 91% increase since 2021.

In a statement published on 10 June 2025, the UK government said it will be "repealing the Act to ensure rough sleeping is no longer a criminal offence, as it concentrates its efforts on getting to the root causes of homelessness, backed by major funding."

The repeal is accompanied by an extra £233 million towards homelessness services this financial year, bringing total investment for 2025-26 to nearly £1 billion. According to the statement, this support will "prevent more families from entering temporary accommodation and tackle rough sleeping head-on."

The Deputy Prime Minister is also developing a new homelessness strategy which is set to be published later this year.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said: "We are drawing a line under nearly two centuries of injustice towards some of the most vulnerable in society, who deserve dignity and support. No one should ever be criminalised simply for sleeping rough and by scrapping this cruel and outdated law, we are making sure that can never happen again."