Lib Dem Call to Scrap Vagrancy Act Gets Labour Backing

Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran’s campaign to scrap the 1824 Vagrancy Act has received Labour party support.

Responding to the announcement, Ms Moran said:

“The 1824 Vagrancy Act is a heartless, Dickensian law that is shamefully still being used thousands of times a year by police forces – including to try and remove homeless people from the streets of Windsor ahead of the Royal Wedding earlier this year.
 
“Despite support from charities like Crisis and St Mungos, sadly the Government have – so far – failed to back my campaign and accept my Vagrancy (Repeal) Bill to axe this legislation. I hope that this growing support from the Labour party will help to convince the Government to do the right thing.
 
“Scotland and Northern Ireland have already repealed the law. England must follow and axe this cruel, outdated legislation which allows the Police to arrest those sleeping rough or begging even if they aren’t doing any harm.”

Image: MP Layla Moran

Meanwhile:

Eleven cities around the UK will get Somewhere Safe to Stay centres to help rough sleepers as part of a government scheme to support vulnerable people.

Minister for housing James Brokenshire announced £4.8 million for the new network of hubs, as part of the government's £100 million Rough Sleeping Strategy.

"No one should ever have to face a night on the streets, and as a government we are taking steps to ensure people are never faced with this as their only option," said Brokenshire.

The official statistics on rough sleeping are produced once a year by the Ministry of Housing. The latest release shows that in autumn 2017, there were 4,751 people sleeping rough in England. That represents a 15% increase on the year before and more than double the number of rough sleepers in 2010.

Image: James Brokenshire

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