Minister seeks public views on plans to decriminalise rough sleeping and begging

Justice Minister Naomi Long is seeking the public's views on her plans to decriminalise rough sleeping and begging.

Under current legislation, it is a criminal offence to sleep rough on the streets or to beg. Today, the Minister has published a consultation on the repeal of section 4 of the Vagrancy Act 1824 and section 3 of the Vagrancy (Ireland) Act 1847.

The consultation is seeking views on whether repeal of this legislation will leave any significant gaps in the criminal law, taking into account the range of other offences available to deal with public disorder, disorderly behaviour and harassment in public places.

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Launching the public consultation, Justice Minister Naomi Long said: “I do not believe it is appropriate to criminalise people who are simply begging but who are not otherwise behaving in a way that would attract criminal sanction. I am fully aware that begging and rough sleeping are often linked to underlying issues, such as poverty, alcohol and drug addiction, poor mental health, sexual and domestic abuse, and family breakdown.

“These are complex and cross-cutting issues which require a multi-agency response of support rather than criminalising people under arcane laws simply because of their personal circumstances.”

The Department is particularly keen to hear from key stakeholders, including those involved in the delivery of health and social care and organisations within the voluntary and community sector which provide support to people begging or sleeping rough.

The consultation can be viewed on the Department of Justice website here.

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