The UK Government has today released analysis of the data on the number of people experiencing homelessness across Wales and England who have been charged and prosecuted using the outdated Vagrancy Act 1824 which makes rough sleeping a crime.   

The figures released today show that the police have an inconsistent approach to using this 200-year-old law with 17 of 43 police forces choosing not to use it at all and three forces using it more than average.  Data is not provided on the extent to which other laws are being used to criminalise people who are sleeping on the streets and this activity is largely unreported and unregulated.   

Jen Clark, Economic and Social Rights lead at Amnesty International UK, said: 

 “Despite Parliament voting for this antiquated law to be repealed in 2022, we’re still waiting for new laws to replace it, even in the face of escalating numbers of people experiencing dangerous rough sleeping.  

“The UK Government is right to say ‘no-one should be criminalised for simply sleeping rough on the streets’, but it’s entirely wrong to further criminalise this vulnerable group of people.  

“After the disastrous attempt by the previous government to introduce discriminatory measures in the Criminal Justice Bill, the new UK Government has signalled an intention to aggressively police ‘street activity’ and street drinking in measures clearly intended to target people who have nowhere else to go.  

“It’s a vital duty of UK Government to ensure that no-one’s left without adequate housing or the support they need to address their health issues.   

“Draconian measures that punish people rather than support them to move away from the streets and push people away from the services which can provide that support and into an already overburdened criminal justice system.   

"We urgently need to see the Vagrancy Act fully repealed and the right to housing recognised in law, as well as properly-resourced local services to support people as they move away from the dangers and indignities of the street.”