Search Legislation

Vagrancy Act 1824

 Help about what version

What Version

 Help about advanced features

Advanced Features

 Help about opening options

Opening Options

Changes to legislation:

Vagrancy Act 1824 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 13 December 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. Help about Changes to Legislation

Close

Changes to Legislation

Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.

View outstanding changes

Changes and effects yet to be applied to :

Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:

Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):

Legislation Crest

Vagrancy Act 1824

1824 CHAPTER 83 5 Geo 4

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)

1, 2.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F1E+W

Textual Amendments

3Persons committing certain offences how to be punished. E+W

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 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

F5Words omitted by virtue of Criminal Justice Act 1948 (c. 58), s. 1(2)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C3Unreliable marginal note.

F7F8[F64 Persons committing certain offences to be deemed rogues and vagabonds. U.K.

Every person committing any of the offences herein-before mentioned, after having been convicted as an idle and disorderly person; [F9 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, [F10 not having any visible means of subsistence ] and not giving a good account of himself or herself; [F11 every person wilfully exposing to view, in any street, road, highway, or public place, any obscene print, picture, or other indecent exhibition ] ; [F12 every person wilfully openly, lewdly, and obscenely exposing his person [F13 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 . . . F14 . . . F15 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; [F16 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, [F17 or any highway or any place adjacent to a street or highway; ] with intent to commit [F18 an [F19arrestable offence[F19indictable 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 [F20 , 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, . . . F21 for any time not exceeding three calendar months; . . . F22 , and . . . ] F23

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)

F8By Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 (c. 24) (N.I.), Sch. 8 Pt. 5, it is provided that the words "being armed with any dangerous or offensive weapon, or" in s. 4(i) be repealed (N.I.) (5.5.2011)

F10Words repealed (E.W.) by Vagrancy Act 1935 (c. 20), s. 1(2)

F12Words 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

F19Words in s. 4(i) substituted (N.I.) (5.5.2011) by Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 (c. 24), s. 111(1), Sch. 7 para. 1

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

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

5 Who shall be deemed incorrigible rogues.E+W

[F24Every 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; [F24and 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 [F25, 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 [F25, 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,) [F26to [F27the Crown Court], either in custody or on bail]; . . . F28

F296 Any person may apprehend offenders.E+W

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F30E+W

Textual Amendments

8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F31E+W

9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F32E+W

10Power of sessions to detain and keep to hard labour, and punish by whipping rogues and vagabonds and incorrigible rogues.E+W

When any incorrigible rogue shall have been committed to . . . F33[F34the 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 . . . F33 imprisoned [F35in the house of correction], . . . F36 for any time not exceeding one year from the time of making such order . . . F37

Textual Amendments

F36Words omitted by virtue of Criminal Justice Act 1948 (c. 58), s. 1(2)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C10Unreliable marginal note.

11, 12.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F38E+W

Textual Amendments

13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F39E+W

14Persons aggrieved may appeal to the next sessions.E+W

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 [F40the Crown Court] . . . F41

Textual Amendments

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C11Unreliable marginal note.

15. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F42E+W

Textual Amendments

16. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F43E+W

Textual Amendments

17. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F44E+W

Textual Amendments

18. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F45E+W

19. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F46E+W

20. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F47E+W

Textual Amendments

21. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F48E+W

Textual Amendments

22 Not to extend to repeal any Act in force in Scotland or Ireland relative to the removal of poor, &c.E+W

[F49Provided also, that] nothing herein contained shall be construed to extend or apply to Scotland or Ireland, [F49nor 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

Back to top

Options/Help

Print Options

Close

Legislation is available in different versions:

Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.

Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.

Close

See additional information alongside the content

Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.

Close

Opening Options

Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once

Close

More Resources

Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • correction slips
  • links to related legislation and further information resources
Close

Timeline of Changes

This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.

Close

More Resources

Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • correction slips

Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including:

  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • links to related legislation and further information resources