Overview

The Vagrancy (Repeal) Bill seeks to abolish the Vagrancy Act 1824, a law considered outdated and often used unfairly against vulnerable individuals. The bill aims to remove outdated and potentially discriminatory provisions from the statute books.

Description

This bill completely repeals the Vagrancy Act 1824. This 1824 Act is seen as an outdated law. The bill also makes consequential amendments to other acts of Parliament that currently refer to or rely on the 1824 Act. This includes repealing relevant sections within:

• The Criminal Justice Act 1982
• The Criminal Justice Act 1967
• The Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000
• The Mental Health Act 1983

The bill ensures that the repeal and amendments apply across the UK. It comes into effect immediately upon being passed.

Government Spending

The bill is not expected to have a significant impact on government spending. The repeal of the Vagrancy Act 1824 is likely to result in minimal, if any, changes to government expenditure as the cost of enforcing the act is low. No specific figures are provided in the bill text.

Groups Affected

The repeal of the Vagrancy Act 1824 will primarily affect:

• Homeless individuals: The act was disproportionately used against homeless people. Repealing the act may lead to better treatment and reduce unfair targeting of this vulnerable group.
• Those with mental health issues: The act could be misused against those with mental health problems. The repeal will remove the potential for such misuse.
• The Police and Courts: The repeal will remove an outdated law from their working practices.

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