Crime

Vagrancy Act to be scrapped after 200 years

Published

12 months ago

June 14, 2025

Law criminalising rough sleeping to be repealed by spring

ROUGH sleeping will no longer be treated as a crime, as the UK Government confirms plans to formally repeal the Vagrancy Act 1824.

The 200-year-old law, introduced to tackle homelessness in the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars, has been widely criticised by campaigners for treating poverty as a criminal issue.

Although prosecutions under the Act have declined significantly in recent years, it remains enforceable in England and Wales. The Government says it will now be repealed entirely by spring 2026.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said: “We are drawing a line under nearly two centuries of injustice towards some of the most vulnerable in society, who deserve dignity and support.

“No one should ever be criminalised simply for sleeping rough, and by scrapping this cruel and outdated law, we are making sure that can never happen again.”

The move forms part of a wider government strategy to tackle the root causes of homelessness. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has increased homelessness funding by £233 million this year, bringing the total for 2025–26 to nearly £1 billion.

Minister for Homelessness, Rushanara Ali said: “Today marks a historic shift. Scrapping the Vagrancy Act is another step forward in our mission to tackle homelessness in all its forms.”

The Government says new powers will be introduced to replace elements of the Vagrancy Act which deal with criminal behaviour, not rough sleeping. These include a new offence of facilitating begging for gain – aimed at tackling exploitation by organised crime groups – and an offence of trespassing with intent to commit a crime.

Matt Downie, Chief Executive of homelessness charity Crisis, said: “This is a landmark moment that will change lives. For 200 years the Vagrancy Act has meant that people who are homeless are treated as criminals. Ending its use recognises a shameful history of persecuting people for poverty and destitution.”

Emma Haddad, Chief Executive of St Mungo’s, said: “The repeal of the Vagrancy Act cannot come soon enough. We are supporting thousands of people sleeping rough, all with their own stories – from complex health issues to an unaffordable housing market.”

The Deputy Prime Minister is working with councils, mayors, and frontline organisations on a new national homelessness strategy, due to be published later this year.

Crime

Milford Haven man admits assault and harassment charges

Published

4 days ago

May 21, 2026

Court Reporter

A MILFORD HAVEN has admitted assaulting a family member and harassing another relative following incidents in the town last year.

Wayne Whatling, 39, of Howarth Close, Milford Haven, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (May 21).

Whatling changed his pleas to guilty to one charge of assault by beating and one charge of harassment without violence.

The assault charge relates to an incident in Milford Haven on September 13, 2025, when Whatling assaulted Ben Whatling by beating him.

He also admitted pursuing a course of conduct amounting to harassment against Carol Whatling between September 1 and September 13, 2025.

The court heard the harassment allegation involved repeatedly asking Carol Whatling for money, with the complainant said to have feared repercussions if she did not provide it.

Magistrates adjourned the case for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Whatling was remanded on conditional bail and ordered not to contact Carol or Ben Whatling directly or indirectly.

He is due to be sentenced at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (June 9).

Crime

Milford Haven man admits affray after alleged pub incident

Published

4 days ago

May 21, 2026

Court Reporter

A MILFORD HAVEN man has admitted affray following an incident at a town centre pub.

Stephen Collier, 38, of Vaynor Road, Milford Haven, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (May 21).

Collier has pleaded guilty to affray, relating to an incident at Nos Da, Victoria Road, Milford Haven, on December 3, 2025.

The charge states that he used unlawful violence towards John Dean Hilton and that his conduct was such as would cause a person of reasonable firmness present at the scene to fear for their personal safety.

Collier also faces a separate charge of burglary dwelling with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm. It is alleged that, on the same date, he entered a flat at Nos Da as a trespasser and inflicted grievous bodily harm on Mr Hilton. He denies that charge.

The court also dealt with a breach of bail allegation after Collier was arrested on May 20 for allegedly breaching a curfew condition. He admitted the breach.

Magistrates re-admitted him to conditional bail.

His bail conditions include a daily electronically monitored curfew between 9:00pm and 6:00am, residence at his Vaynor Road address, and exclusions from Mount Estate, Milford Haven town centre, and Nos Da.

He must also not contact prosecution witnesses, including Molly Martin, Jack Martin, Lily Rose Martin and John Hilton.

Collier is due to appear at Swansea Crown Court on Friday, June 5, for sentence.

A spokesperson for Nos Da said the incident was connected with rooms upstairs at the Victoria Road premises, and did not take place in the bar itself, in the licensed area.