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Version Superseded: 01/01/2006
Point in time view as at 01/05/2004.
Vagrancy Act 1824 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 10 October 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
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An Act for the Punishment of idle and disorderly Persons, and Rogues and Vagabonds, in England
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1Short title given by Short Titles Act 1896 (c. 14)
C2Preamble omitted under authority of Statute Law Revision Act 1890 (c. 33)
Textual Amendments
F1Ss. 1, 2 repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1873 (c. 91)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F2[F3every petty chapman or pedlar wandering abroad, and trading without being duly licensed, or otherwise authorized by law; every common prostitute wandering in the public streets or public highways, or in any place of public resort, and behaving in a riotous or indecent manner; and] every person wandering abroad, or placing himself or herself in any public place, street, highway, court, or passage, to beg or gather alms, or causing or procuring or encouraging any child or children so to do; shall be deemed an idle and disorderly person within the true intent and meaning of this Act; and [F4, subject to section 70 of the Criminal Justice Act 1982,] it shall be lawful for any justice of the peace to commit such offender (being thereof convicted before him by his own view, or by the confession of such offender, or by the evidence on oath of one or more credible witness or witnesses,) to the house of correction, . . . F5 for any time not exceeding one calendar month.
Textual Amendments
F2Words repealed by National Assistance Act 1948 (c. 29), Sch. 7 Pt. I
F3Words repealed (E.W.) by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1989 (c. 43), s. 1(1), Sch. 1
F4Words inserted by Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48), Sch. 14 para. 1(a)
F5Words omitted by virtue of Criminal Justice Act 1948 (c. 58), s. 1(2)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C3Unreliable marginal note.
C4S. 3 extended by Universities Act 1825 (c. 97), s. 3
C5S. 3 amended by Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48), s. 70
Every person committing any of the offences herein-before mentioned, after having been convicted as an idle and disorderly person; [F8 every person pretending or professing to tell fortunes, or using any subtle craft, means, or device, by palmistry or otherwise, to deceive and impose on any of his Majesty’s subjects; ] every person wandering abroad and lodging in any barn or outhouse, or in any deserted or unoccupied building, or in the open air, or under a tent, or in any cart or waggon, [F9 not having any visible means of subsistence ] and not giving a good account of himself or herself; [F10 every person wilfully exposing to view, in any street, road, highway, or public place, any obscene print, picture, or other indecent exhibition ] ; [F11 every person wilfully openly, lewdly, and obscenely exposing his person [F12 in any street, road, or public highway, or in the view thereof, or in any place of public resort, ] with intent to insult any female ] ; every person wandering abroad, and endeavouring by the exposure of wounds or deformities to obtain or gather alms; every person going about as a gatherer or collector of alms, or endeavouring to procure charitable contributions of any nature or kind, under any false or fraudulent pretence . . . F13 . . . F14 every person being found in or upon any dwelling house, warehouse, coach-house, stable, or outhouse, or in any inclosed yard, garden, or area, for any unlawful purpose; [F15 every suspected person or reputed thief, frequenting any river, canal, or navigable stream, dock, or basin, or any quay, wharf, or warehouse near or adjoining thereto, or any street, highway, or avenue leading thereto, or any place of public resort, or any avenue leading thereto, or any street, [F16 or any highway or any place adjacent to a street or highway; ] with intent to commit [F17 an arrestable offence ]] ; and every person apprehended as an idle and disorderly person, and violently resisting any constable, or other peace officer so apprehending him or her, and being subsequently convicted of the offence for which he or she shall have been so apprehended; shall be deemed a rogue and vagabond, within the true intent and meaning of this Act;and [F18 , subject to section 70 of The Criminal Justice Act 1982, ] it shall be lawful for any justice of the peace to commit such offender (being thereof convicted before him by the confession of such offender, or by the evidence on oath of one or more credible witness or witnesses,) to the house of correction, . . . F19 for any time not exceeding three calendar months; . . . F20 , and . . . ] F21
Textual Amendments
F6S. 4 repealed (S.) by Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (c. 45), Sch. 4 and repealed, so far as it extends to persons purporting to act as spiritualistic mediums or to exercise any powers of telepathy, clairvoyance or other similar powers, or to persons who, in purporting so to act or to exercise such powers, use fraudulent devices, by Fraudulent Mediums Act 1951 (c. 33), s. 2(b)
F7By Sexual Offences Act 2003 (c. 42), Sch. 6 para. 2, Sch. 7; S.I. 2004/874, art. 2, it is provided that the words in s. 4 from “wilfully, openly, lewdly” to “any female; or” be repealed (N.I.) (1.5.2004)
F8Words repealed (E.W.) by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1989 (c. 43), s. 1(1), Sch. 1
F9Words repealed (E.W.) by Vagrancy Act 1935 (c. 20), s. 1(2)
F10Words repealed (E.W.S.) by Indecent Displays (Control) Act 1981 (c. 42), s. 5, Sch.
F11Words in s. 4 repealed (E.W.S.) (1.5.2004) by Sexual Offences Act 2003 (c. 42), s. 141, Sch. 6 para. 1, Sch. 7; S.I. 2004/874, art. 2
F12Words repealed (E.W.) by Criminal Justice Act 1925 (c. 86), Sch. 3
F13Words repealed by Statute Law Revision (No. 2) Act 1888 (c. 57) and National Assistance Act 1948 (c. 29), Sch. 7 Pt. I
F14Words repealed by Public Order Act 1986 (c. 64, SIF 39:2), s. 40(3), Sch. 3
F15Words repealed (E.W.) by Criminal Attempts Act 1981 (c. 47, SIF 39:1), s. 8, Sch. Pt. II
F16Words substituted by Prevention of Crimes Act 1871 (c. 112), s. 15
F17Words substituted by Criminal Law Act 1967 (c. 58), s. 11(3), Sch. 2 para. 2(1)(b)
F18Words inserted by Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), Sch. 14 para. 1(a)
F19Words omitted by virtue of (E.W.) Criminal Justice Act 1948 (c. 58), s. 1(2) and (S.) Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 (c. 21), s. 221(2)
F20Words repealed by Theft Act 1968 (c. 60), Sch. 3 Pt. I
F21Words repealed by Public Order Act 1986 (c. 64, SIF 39:2), s. 40(3), Sch. 3
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C6S.4 amended (E.W.) by Vagrancy Act 1935 (c. 20)
C7S. 4 extended (N.I.) and (S.) by 1871 c. 112 though is not necessarily in the form in which it has effect in Northern Ireland
C8S. 4 amended by Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48), s. 70
C9S. 4 :by Criminal Attempts Act 1981 (c. 47, SIF 39:1), s. 8, it is provided that the provisions of section 4 of the Vagrancy Act 1824 which apply to suspected persons and reputed thieves frequenting or loitering about the places described in that section with the intent there specified shall cease to have effect
[F22Every person breaking or escaping out of any place of legal confinement before the expiration of the term for which he or she shall have been committed or ordered to be confined by virtue of this Act;]every person committing any offence against this Act which shall subject him or her to be dealt with as a rogue and vagabond, such person having been at some former time adjudged so to be, and duly convicted thereof; [F22and every person apprehended as a rogue and vagabond, and violently resisting any constable or other peace officer so apprehending him or her, and being subsequently convicted of the offence for which he or she shall have been so apprehended]; shall [F23, subject to section 70 of the Criminal Justice Act 1982,] be deemed an incorrigible rogue within the true intent and meaning of this Act; and [F23, subject to section 70 of the Criminal Justice Act 1982,] it shall be lawful for any justice of the peace to commit such offender (being thereof convicted before him by the confession of such offender, or by the evidence on oath of one or more credible witness or witnesses,) [F24to [F25the Crown Court], either in custody or on bail]; . . . F26
Textual Amendments
F22Words repealed (E.W.) by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1989 (c. 43), s. 1(1), Sch. 1
F23Words inserted by Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), Sch. 14 para. 1(b)
F24Words substituted by Criminal Justice Act 1967 (c. 80), Sch. 6 para. 1
F25Words substituted by Courts Act 1971 (c. 23), Sch. 8 para. 5(a)
F26Words repealed by Criminal Justice Act 1948 (c. 58), Sch. 10 Pt. I
It shall be lawful for any person whatsoever to apprehend any person who shall be found offending against this Act, and forthwith to take and convey him or her before some justice of the peace, to be dealt with in such manner as is herein-before directed, or to deliver him or her to any constable or other peace officer of the place where he or she shall have been apprehended, to be so taken and conveyed as aforesaid; . . . F27
Textual Amendments
F27Words repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1966 (c. 5)
Textual Amendments
F28S. 7 repealed by Summary Jurisdiction Act 1884 (c. 43), Sch.
Textual Amendments
Textual Amendments
When any incorrigible rogue shall have been committed to . . . F31[F32the Crown Court, it shall be lawful for the Crown Court] to examine into the circumstances of the case, and to order, if they think fit, that such offender be . . . F31 imprisoned [F33in the house of correction], . . . F34 for any time not exceeding one year from the time of making such order . . . F35
Textual Amendments
F31Words repealed by Criminal Justice Act 1967 (c. 80), Sch. 7 Pt. I
F32Words substituted by Courts Act 1971 (c. 23), Sch. 8 para. 5(b)
F33Words repealed (E.W.) by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1989 (c. 43), s. 1(1), Sch. 1
F34Words omitted by virtue of Criminal Justice Act 1948 (c. 58), s. 1(2)
F35Words repealed by Criminal Justice Act 1948 (c. 58), Sch. 10 Pt. I
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C10Unreliable marginal note.
Textual Amendments
F36Ss. 11, 12 repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1966 (c. 5)
Textual Amendments
Any person aggrieved by any Act or determination of any justice or justices of the peace out of sessions, in or concerning the execution of this Act, may appeal to [F38the Crown Court] . . . F39
Textual Amendments
F38Words substituted by Courts Act 1971 (c. 23), Sch. 8 para. 5(c)
F39Words repealed by Summary Jurisdiction Act 1884 (c. 43), Sch.
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C11Unreliable marginal note.
Textual Amendments
F40S. 15 repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1950 (c. 6)
Textual Amendments
F41S. 16 repealed by Theft Act 1968 (c. 60), Sch. 3 Pt. II
Textual Amendments
F42S. 17 repealed by Summary Jurisdiction Act 1884 (c. 43), Sch.
Textual Amendments
Textual Amendments
F44S. 19 repealed by Public Authorities Protection Act 1893 (c. 61), Sch.
Textual Amendments
F45S. 20 repealed by Poor Law Act 1927 (c. 14), Sch. 11
Textual Amendments
F46S. 21 repealed by Theft Act 1968 (c. 60), Sch. 3 Pt. II
[F47Provided also, that] nothing herein contained shall be construed to extend or apply to Scotland or Ireland, [F47nor to alter any law now in force for the removal of poor persons born in Scotland, Ireland, or the Isles of Man, Jersey, and Guernsey, and becoming chargeable to parishes in England, such persons not having committed acts of vagrancy as herein-before described, nor to alter any law now in force relating to lunatic vagrants.]
Textual Amendments
F47Words repealed (E.W.) by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1989 (c. 43), s. 1(1), Sch. 1, Pt. I
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