200 years later: ‘Outdated and cruel’ UK Vagrancy Act to be scrapped by spring

14th June 2025Ben Twomey, Chief Executive, Generation Rent

With the UK Government recently announcing that the Vagrancy Act will be repealed by spring next year, Generation Rent Chief Executive Ben Twomey looks at the background to a 200-year-old piece of “outdated” legislation that is still used to criminalise some aspects of homelessness, and considers what may take its place.

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200 years later: ‘Outdated and cruel’ UK Vagrancy Act to be scrapped by spring

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