Vagrancy Act 1824

Vagrancy Act 1824[1]
Long titleAn Act for the Punishment of idle and disorderly Persons, and Rogues and Vagabonds, in that Part of Great Britain called England.
Citation5 Geo. 4. c. 83
Territorial extent England and Wales
Dates
Royal assent21 June 1824
Commencement21 June 1824
Other legislation
Amended by
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Text of statute as originally enacted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Parts of the Vagrancy Act 1824 have not been repealed by UK Parliament, meaning some of its legal provisions remain convictable offences and are enforceable.

  1. ^ The citation of this Act by this short title was authorised by the Short Titles Act 1896, section 1 and the first schedule. Due to the repeal of those provisions it is now authorised by section 19(2) of the Interpretation Act 1978.