Scrap ‘Dickensian’ Law That Criminalises The Homeless, Says MP

An MP has organised a parliamentary debate for next week on the law used to criminalise rough sleepers.

Oxford West and Abingdon’s Layla Moran says the 1824 Vagrancy Act is outdated, Dickensian and should be scrapped. Ms Moran, who has previously raised the issue at Prime Minister’s questions, says the law is used thousands of times a year to arrest homeless people. She says the issue was first raised with her during Oxford Uniersity Student’s Union’s On Your Doorstep campaign.

Homeless charities Crisis, St Mungos and Centrepoint are also supporting the campaign, so “rough sleepers get the support and help they need instead of being arrested just because they don’t have anywhere to spend the night”.

Ms Moran, who is urging the government to support her Private Members Bill to repeal the law, said: “This debate takes us, I hope, one step further to tearing up this heartless Dickensian law which shouldn’t be in use. I am pleased that support is growing, with the Labour Party and homelessness charities all backing my campaign to change the law.”

She added: “I’ll be using the debate to urge the Housing Minister to do the right thing by axing this law, just as Scotland and Northern Ireland have done, and giving rough sleepers support instead of locking them up and fining them.”

The debate will take place in the main chamber of the House of Commons on Tuesday.