Petition · past parliament
Repeal of the Vagrancy Act of 1824.
Closed
1,124 signatures
What the petition asks
This act declares it a criminal act to sleep on the streets or to beg, hence making homelessness a crime.
The number of cases brought to court under the 1824 Vagrancy Act has surged by 70%, prompting concerns that cuts to support services and benefits are pushing more people to resort to begging. (2009)
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/nov/30/begging-prosecutions-increase-england-wales
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/nov/30/begging-prosecutions-increase-england-wales
Timeline
| 14 Oct 2016 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 14 Apr 2017 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
1,124
Status
Closed
Opened
14 Oct 2016
Closed
14 Apr 2017
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.