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  • Closed consultation Consultation on Repeal of the Vagrancy Act 1824 and the Vagrancy (IRELAND) Act 1847

    Topics:
    • Justice and the law

    Consultation closed Consultation opened 20 November 2024, 11.51 am and closed 31 January 2025, 11.59 pm

    Summary

    The Department of Justice is seeking views on its plans to decriminalise rough sleeping and begging by repealing the relevant provisions of the Vagrancy Act 1824 and the Vagrancy (Ireland) Act 1847 and whether respondents consider that this will leave significant gaps in the criminal law, taking into account the range of other offences available to deal with public order, disorderly behaviour and harassment in public places.

    Documents

    • Consultation response form Microsoft Word (74 KB)
    • Vagrancy consultation Adobe PDF (376 KB)
    • Summary of responses Adobe PDF (389 KB)

    Help viewing documents

    Consultation description

    Responses to the consultation can be made on the response form provided and emailed to CPU@justice-ni.gov.uk or you can write to us at: Criminal Policy Unit, Criminal Justice Policy and Legislation Division, Department of Justice, Massey House, Stormont Estate, Belfast BT4 3SX.

    The consultation will run for a period of 9 weeks from 20 November 2024. Responses should be submitted by midnight on 21 January 2025.

    If you have any comments about the way this consultation process has been handled, you should send them to: Governance.Unit@justice-ni.gov.uk

    Ways to respond

    Consultation closed — responses are no longer being accepted.

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