The UK is doing away with one of the most controversial laws in its history: the Vagrancy Act of 1824, which allowed people to be detained for sleeping outside at night, will be finally repealed. From now on, if a person is without housing, the police will no longer be able to initiate criminal proceedings. This is a formal—if also highly symbolic—end to nearly two centuries of punitive practice toward people experiencing homelessness.
What is especially important is that the government’s new direction is not just an end to punishment, but the introduction of a support-focused policy with individualised approaches aimed at reducing social vulnerability. Treating people experiencing homelessness not as violators of public order, but as individuals in difficult circumstances, is both a matter of compassion and an effective social policy. More research and examples from global experience suggest that investing in early help, temporary housing, and professional support can significantly reduce costs for policing and healthcare and help people return to society.
These steps are becoming an example for other countries, showing that social justice is not a slogan, but a set of concrete actions.
