Charities protest at government plan to further criminalise homelessness Apr 21st, 2023 https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/46999 ource: Westminster J&P, Caritas Homeless campaigners have expressed concern at the government's proposal to replace the archaic Vagrancy Act, with legislation that could punish homeless people even more. Under the 1824 Vagrancy Act, it is a crime to sleep in a doorway or beg. Currently anyone convicted under the law faces a fine of up to £1,000 and a two-year criminal record. People who can't afford to pay fines are often sent to prison. Although the government pledged to scrap the Act in 2021, since then more than 1,000 homeless people have been arrested for sleeping rough or begging. On 26 March this year, the government unveiled their new 'anti social behaviour plan' - but rather than offer support to homeless people - it consists of a raft of proposals to replace the Vagrancy Act with new powers for local authorities and the poli...