Government’s Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan risks punishing people rough sleeping

National homelessness charity Crisis has issued a stark warning to the Government that the new proposals to tackle anti-social behaviour, set to be announced today, risk punishing people sleeping on the streets and could drive them further from support.

 The Government’s plans indicate that those who are destitute and living on the streets could be subject to police action if they ask for money, food or shelter. While the charity has welcomed the intention to crack down on criminal gangs who exploit people to beg, Crisis fears people forced to rough sleep risk being labelled a ‘nuisance’ simply for having nowhere else to go.

 In 2021 the Government pledged to scrap the Vagrancy Act, which makes it a criminal offence to sleep rough in England and Wales, after sustained campaigning from Crisis and other homelessness charities. However, the act remains in force until the Government chooses to enact the repeal. Crisis argues that the plans outlined today risks replacing the Vagrancy Act in all but name and has urged the Government to follow through with its commitment to scrap the archaic law.

 Responding to the proposed plans Matt Downie, Chief Executive of Crisis, said: “It cannot be understated how traumatic, dangerous and dehumanising life on the streets is. For the thousands enduring this right now, every day is a struggle to survive as people battle the elements, abuse and isolation. While we need to see the full details, labelling destitute people a nuisance and threatening to move people on is not the answer to tackling rough sleeping. It’s incredibly disappointing to see the Government resorting to this rhetoric at a time when rough sleeping numbers are once again surging as the rising cost of living pushes more people into poverty.

 “The solutions are simple. If we built more affordable housing, funded support services and invested in housing benefit so people can pay their rent we could end rough sleeping for good, which is a commitment the Government itself has made and shouldn’t need reminding of. Dressing the Vagrancy Act up in new clothes is not the answer – all this will do is criminalise and punish the poorest in society.  

 “We urge the Government to stick to its plan to scrap this archaic, destructive law and focus on getting people the support they need so no one is forced to sleep on our streets.”