Homelessness illegal?

[Rich-Allen1976]

Above.

Thoughts?

 

[Beerkeg]

Okay, even if a government wanted to do something like that, how would they even accomplish it? What would be the punishment? A fine for someone who can't rent a place? Throw them in jail? To what end? So they can sit in jail for a year and then be homeless again?

[Rich-Allen1976]

Okay, even if a government wanted to do something like that, how would they even accomplish it? What would be the punishment? A fine for someone who can't rent a place? Throw them in jail? To what end? So they can sit in jail for a year and then be homeless again?

This is all stuff the fools in London don't consider, even if it did become Law, it's completely and utterly unworkable.

[Ojisama]

Well, in 2022, the Government announced an intention to repeal the Vagrancy Act 1824, but not until appropriate legislation is in place to replace it. I'm not sure how far along they have got, but the original act states...

"every person wandering abroad and lodging in any barn or outhouse, or in any deserted or unoccupied building, or in the open air, or under a tent, or in any cart or waggon..."

"it shall be lawful for any justice of the peace to commit such offender (being thereof convicted before him by the confession of such offender, or by the evidence on oath of one or more credible witness or witnesses,) to the house of correction, for any time not exceeding three calendar months..."

Interestingly, the Act also covers other offences that may be committed by "rogues and vagabonds."

"every person pretending or professing to tell fortunes, or using any subtle craft, means, or device, by palmistry or otherwise, to deceive and impose on any of his Majesty’s subjects"

"every person wandering abroad, and endeavouring by the exposure of wounds or deformities to obtain or gather alms; every person going about as a gatherer or collector of alms, or endeavouring to procure charitable contributions of any nature or kind, under any false or fraudulent pretence"

"every person apprehended as an idle and disorderly person, and violently resisting any constable, or other peace officer so apprehending him or her, and being subsequently convicted of the offence for which he or she shall have been so apprehended; shall be deemed a rogue and vagabond, within the true intent and meaning of this Act"


What I'm getting around to is this. Unless a new act has been put in place in the last 1.5 years, it actually IS illegal to be homeless.

[Rich-Allen1976]

Well, in 2022, the Government announced an intention to repeal the Vagrancy Act 1824, but not until appropriate legislation is in place to replace it. I'm not sure how far along they have got, but the original act states...

"every person wandering abroad and lodging in any barn or outhouse, or in any deserted or unoccupied building, or in the open air, or under a tent, or in any cart or waggon..."

"it shall be lawful for any justice of the peace to commit such offender (being thereof convicted before him by the confession of such offender, or by the evidence on oath of one or more credible witness or witnesses,) to the house of correction, for any time not exceeding three calendar months..."

Interestingly, the Act also covers other offences that may be committed by "rogues and vagabonds."

"every person pretending or professing to tell fortunes, or using any subtle craft, means, or device, by palmistry or otherwise, to deceive and impose on any of his Majesty’s subjects"

"every person wandering abroad, and endeavouring by the exposure of wounds or deformities to obtain or gather alms; every person going about as a gatherer or collector of alms, or endeavouring to procure charitable contributions of any nature or kind, under any false or fraudulent pretence"

"every person apprehended as an idle and disorderly person, and violently resisting any constable, or other peace officer so apprehending him or her, and being subsequently convicted of the offence for which he or she shall have been so apprehended; shall be deemed a rogue and vagabond, within the true intent and meaning of this Act"


What I'm getting around to is this. Unless a new act has been put in place in the last 1.5 years, it actually IS illegal to be homeless.

What gets me though, is that I'm sure you've seen the myriad of Homeless people who congregate outside Sainsbury's and McDonald's on the High St in Town? And, it's within shouting distance of Snig Hill nick therefore why don't the Coppers come and move them along?

At least there's no longer the hordes of Big Issue sellers outside Virgin Money at the top of Fargate, don't get me wrong at least they're doing a valuable job and earning some loot though.