The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (Commencement No. 9) Regulations 2026
Commenced the repeal of the Vagrancy Act 1824 and its associated offences for begging and rough sleeping.
This statutory instrument brings into force section 81 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 on 29th June 2026.
It directs the repeal of the Vagrancy Act 1824, which previously established criminal offences for begging and rough sleeping in England and Wales.
The regulations apply to the criminal justice system and law enforcement agencies by removing these historical offences and making necessary consequential amendments to other legislation.
Arguments For
The regulations state that the primary effect is the commencement of section 81 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, which repeals the Vagrancy Act 1824.
The document notes that the Vagrancy Act 1824 created offences relating to begging and rough sleeping which the Act now seeks to abolish.
Proponents within the government frame this as a necessary administrative step to trigger legislative changes previously approved by Parliament.
The explanatory note asserts that no significant impact on the private, voluntary, or public sector is foreseen, justifying the absence of a full impact assessment.
Arguments Against
Legal scholars and advocacy groups have historically raised concerns regarding the interval between the primary legislation's passage and the actual commencement of the repeal of the Vagrancy Act 1824.
Civil liberties organizations may argue that while the repeal is positive, the delay in commencement allowed for continued enforcement of archaic vagrancy laws.
Local authorities may face ambiguity or implementation difficulties regarding alternative methods for managing public spaces once the 1824 Act offences are no longer available for use by law enforcement.
Citation
- These Regulations may be cited as the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (Commencement No. 9) Regulations 2026.
This section establishes the official title by which the regulations may be referenced in legal and administrative contexts.
It identifies the instrument as the ninth set of commencement regulations issued under the parent 2022 Act.
Provision coming into force on 29th June 2026
- Section 81 (repeal of the Vagrancy Act 1824 etc) of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 comes into force on 29th June 2026.
This provision sets 29th June 2026 as the date on which section 81 of the 2022 Act becomes legally effective. Once active, this section repeals the Vagrancy Act 1824 and enacts any related legislative amendments necessitated by that repeal.
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