Vagrancy Act 1824

Vagrancy Act 1824^[1]

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act for the Punishment of idle and disorderly Persons, and Rogues and Vagabonds, in that Part of Great Britain called England.
Citation	5 Geo. 4. c. 83
Territorial extent	England and Wales
Dates
Royal assent	21 June 1824
Commencement	21 June 1824
Other legislation
Amended by	List Universities Act 1825 Limitations of Actions and Costs Act 1842 Prevention of Crimes Act 1871 Statute Law Revision Act 1873 Summary Jurisdiction Act 1884 Statute Law Revision (No. 2) Act 1888 Statute Law Revision Act 1890 Public Authorities Protection Act 1893 Criminal Justice Act 1925 Vagrancy Act 1935 Criminal Justice Act 1948 National Assistance Act 1948 Statute Law Revision Act 1950 Fraudulent Mediums Act 1951 Criminal Law Act 1967 Criminal Justice Act 1967 Theft Act 1968 Courts Act 1971 Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 Criminal Attempts Act 1981 Indecent Displays (Control) Act 1981 Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 Criminal Justice Act 1982 Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 Public Order Act 1986 Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1989 Sexual Offences Act 2003 Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 Criminal Procedure (Attendance of Witnesses) Act 1965 Statute Law Revision Act 1966 Poor Law Act 1927
Status: Amended
Text of statute as originally enacted
Revised text of statute as amended

The Vagrancy Act 1824 (5 Geo. 4. c. 83) is an Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom that makes it an offence to sleep rough or beg in England and Wales. The legislation was passed in Georgian England to combat the increasing number of people forced to live on the streets due to the conclusion of the Napoleonic Wars and the social effects of the Industrial Revolution. Critics of the law included politician and abolitionist, William Wilberforce, who condemned the Act for making it a catch-all offence for vagrancy with no consideration of the circumstances as to why an individual might be homeless.

Parts of the Vagrancy Act 1824 have not been repealed by UK Parliament, meaning some of its legal provisions remain convictable offences and are enforceable.