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| Rough sleeping: Arrests fall as police brand law 'archaic' | Rough sleeping: Arrests fall as police brand law 'archaic' |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Police have criticised a law allowing beggars and rough sleepers to be arrested, as figures reveal they are using their powers less. | Police have criticised a law allowing beggars and rough sleepers to be arrested, as figures reveal they are using their powers less. |
| Arrests under the Vagrancy Act have halved over two years, data obtained by the BBC suggests. | Arrests under the Vagrancy Act have halved over two years, data obtained by the BBC suggests. |
| Forces have said they are "moving away" from the "archaic" law which charities say "criminalises" the homeless. | Forces have said they are "moving away" from the "archaic" law which charities say "criminalises" the homeless. |
| The government said the law was under review. | The government said the law was under review. |
| Figures from 33 police forces in England and Wales show a sharp fall in arrests between 2016 and 2018. | Figures from 33 police forces in England and Wales show a sharp fall in arrests between 2016 and 2018. |
| There were 1,127 arrests in 2017-18, down from 2,220 in 2015-16. | There were 1,127 arrests in 2017-18, down from 2,220 in 2015-16. |
| Almost 80% of the forces that provided data had reduced the number of arrests. | Almost 80% of the forces that provided data had reduced the number of arrests. |
| 'Exacerbates problems' | 'Exacerbates problems' |
| West Midlands Police said it had "consciously" moved away from using the Vagrancy Act to pursue more "meaningful solutions". | West Midlands Police said it had "consciously" moved away from using the Vagrancy Act to pursue more "meaningful solutions". |
| Supt Ian Green said: "The Vagrancy Act is an archaic piece of legislation. | Supt Ian Green said: "The Vagrancy Act is an archaic piece of legislation. |
| "It often ends with people being given fines they can't afford to pay or being sent to prison, which only exacerbates their problems." | "It often ends with people being given fines they can't afford to pay or being sent to prison, which only exacerbates their problems." |
| West Midlands Police made 91 arrests under the Vagrancy Act in 2017-18 compared to 229 in 2015-16. | West Midlands Police made 91 arrests under the Vagrancy Act in 2017-18 compared to 229 in 2015-16. |
| However, police in Birmingham could be given other powers to disperse individuals and groups and issue fines. | However, police in Birmingham could be given other powers to disperse individuals and groups and issue fines. |
| Councillors in Birmingham are due to discuss plans for a Public Space Protection Order on 4 June but the move has prompted protests from demonstrators who say it will treat "sleeping in a doorway and asking for a cup of tea" as a crime. | Councillors in Birmingham are due to discuss plans for a Public Space Protection Order on 4 June but the move has prompted protests from demonstrators who say it will treat "sleeping in a doorway and asking for a cup of tea" as a crime. |
| The city council said complaints over crime and anti-social behaviour had increased "significantly" over the past 12 months and the order would protect the homeless as well as the wider public. | The city council said complaints over crime and anti-social behaviour had increased "significantly" over the past 12 months and the order would protect the homeless as well as the wider public. |
| London's Metropolitan Police made 821 arrests in 2015-16, falling to 399 in 2017-18. | London's Metropolitan Police made 821 arrests in 2015-16, falling to 399 in 2017-18. |
| The force said it was seeking "alternative means" of dealing with beggars and rough sleepers. | The force said it was seeking "alternative means" of dealing with beggars and rough sleepers. |
| Arrests by Merseyside Police fell by 72% from 248 to 68 in three years. | Arrests by Merseyside Police fell by 72% from 248 to 68 in three years. |
| The force said "we cannot enforce our way out of a problem" and it is working more with charities and outreach workers. | The force said "we cannot enforce our way out of a problem" and it is working more with charities and outreach workers. |
| Addiction support | Addiction support |
| It said it helps people access services such as addiction support or housing agencies. | It said it helps people access services such as addiction support or housing agencies. |
| South Wales Police is one of only seven forces who responded saying it had increased its use of the act - making 76 arrests in 2017-18 compared to 63 in 2015-16. | South Wales Police is one of only seven forces who responded saying it had increased its use of the act - making 76 arrests in 2017-18 compared to 63 in 2015-16. |
| Norfolk Police made comparatively few arrests but also increased its use of the act with 26 arrests in 2017-18 compared with just nine two years previously. | Norfolk Police made comparatively few arrests but also increased its use of the act with 26 arrests in 2017-18 compared with just nine two years previously. |
| Forces say they make arrests as a last resort, mainly to tackle aggressive begging or anti-social behaviour. | Forces say they make arrests as a last resort, mainly to tackle aggressive begging or anti-social behaviour. |
| Between 2015 and 2018, 33 forces in England and Wales made a total of 5,074 arrests. | Between 2015 and 2018, 33 forces in England and Wales made a total of 5,074 arrests. |
| The person was charged in 60% of cases. Two-thirds of the arrests were because of some form of begging. | The person was charged in 60% of cases. Two-thirds of the arrests were because of some form of begging. |
| What is the Vagrancy Act? | What is the Vagrancy Act? |
| Under the law - which has been repealed in Scotland and Northern Ireland - police have the power to arrest people found in enclosed places or caught begging in public. | Under the law - which has been repealed in Scotland and Northern Ireland - police have the power to arrest people found in enclosed places or caught begging in public. |
| Conviction can result in a fine of up to £1,000 and a two-year criminal record. | Conviction can result in a fine of up to £1,000 and a two-year criminal record. |
| Homelessness charities have called for the Government to repeal the law, believing it "criminalises" rough sleepers. | Homelessness charities have called for the Government to repeal the law, believing it "criminalises" rough sleepers. |
| The legislation, which dates back to the time of George IV, stipulates "rogues and vagabonds" can be arrested and potentially prosecuted for the likes of lodging in a tent, a cart, a wagon or a stable, not giving a good account of themselves or "professing to tell fortunes" as well as indecent exposure. | The legislation, which dates back to the time of George IV, stipulates "rogues and vagabonds" can be arrested and potentially prosecuted for the likes of lodging in a tent, a cart, a wagon or a stable, not giving a good account of themselves or "professing to tell fortunes" as well as indecent exposure. |
| Homelessness charities including St Mungo's, Crisis and Centrepoint have all called for the Vagrancy Act to be repealed. | Homelessness charities including St Mungo's, Crisis and Centrepoint have all called for the Vagrancy Act to be repealed. |
| 'Outdated and draconian' | 'Outdated and draconian' |
| Matt Downie, from Crisis, said: "We all know that the Vagrancy Act is outdated and draconian, and does nothing to help end homelessness." | Matt Downie, from Crisis, said: "We all know that the Vagrancy Act is outdated and draconian, and does nothing to help end homelessness." |
| St Mungo's added: "The people we work with who are sleeping rough deserve respect and dignity, not criminalisation. | St Mungo's added: "The people we work with who are sleeping rough deserve respect and dignity, not criminalisation. |
| "What they need to come off the streets is swift access to the right housing and support." | "What they need to come off the streets is swift access to the right housing and support." |
| An open letter in March, signed by 240 Labour figures - including MPs - said the law "specifically targets the most marginalised in our society". | An open letter in March, signed by 240 Labour figures - including MPs - said the law "specifically targets the most marginalised in our society". |
| Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran, who has put forward a bill in Parliament to repeal the act, said the figures were "shameful" despite the fall. | Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran, who has put forward a bill in Parliament to repeal the act, said the figures were "shameful" despite the fall. |
| "Time and time again I have called for the scrapping of this horrid law to no avail from the Government benches," she said. | "Time and time again I have called for the scrapping of this horrid law to no avail from the Government benches," she said. |
| Across England there was an estimated 4,677 people sleeping rough in autumn 2018. | |
| There was a slight fall on the previous year, but overall rough sleeping has increased 165% since 2010. | There was a slight fall on the previous year, but overall rough sleeping has increased 165% since 2010. |
| A spokesman for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: "We have announced a wider review of rough sleeping and homelessness legislation, including the Vagrancy Act, and we will announce further steps in due course." | A spokesman for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: "We have announced a wider review of rough sleeping and homelessness legislation, including the Vagrancy Act, and we will announce further steps in due course." |