Criminalising homelessness: Government must tackle root causes not scapegoat victims

EMBARGO: For Immediate Release

The Liberal Democrats have called on the government to back down on plans to criminalise homelessness in the Criminal Justice Bill, after The Times reported ministers are facing a backbench rebellion from Conservative MPs on the issue.

Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran, who led the cross-party campaign to scrap the Vagrancy Act which criminalises homelessness, commented:

"The heartless proposals in the Criminal Justice Bill risk bringing back the Vagrancy Act by the back door.

"The government should listen to their own backbenchers and take a compassionate approach to tackling homelessness, instead of stigmatising and criminalising rough sleepers.

"Sleeping rough is not a lifestyle choice. Ministers should focus on tackling the root causes of this crisis, not scapegoating the victims of it."

ENDS

Notes to Editor

First reported in The Times here