Scrapping the Vagrancy Act: Why it matters

It's been a big week politically, so one thing I'd like to highlight that you may have missed has been our Government's decision to get rid of the Vagrancy Act.

This decision marks a turning point. By scrapping the outdated Vagrancy Act, this Labour Government is sending a clear message: in a civilised society, we do not treat homelessness as a crime.

Instead of penalising people in crisis, we are focusing the law where it should be - on protecting communities from real harm. I welcome new legislation that will tackle serious issues like organised criminal gangs exploiting vulnerable individuals for begging, and repeated trespassing that causes genuine distress — rather than rough sleeping.

What is the Vagrancy Act? For nearly 200 years, some of the most vulnerable people in our country have been criminalised simply for sleeping rough. As your Labour Member of Parliament for the Buckingham and Bletchley constituency, I am pleased that era is now coming to an end. We are drawing a line under two centuries of injustice and choosing a more compassionate, practical, and principled path.

It is not, and should never be, the purpose of Government to punish people for the misfortune of having nowhere to call home. The criminal justice system is not a solution to homelessness — dignity, support, and opportunity are.

We are backing change with action. This Labour Government has committed nearly £1 billion this year to homelessness services — a record investment. I look forward to working with both Milton Keynes City and Buckinghamshire Councils, in addition to the many charities and frontline workers to prevent homelessness before it happens and to help people off the streets in our towns, villages and city for good.

This is a decisive step towards a fairer society — one that offers support, not suspicion, to those who need it most.