THE Vagrancy Act 1824 makes it an offence to sleep in the streets or to beg and so making it a crime in England and Wales.

When the act was passed, criticism of it centred on the fact that it created a catch-all offence.

To sleep on the streets or to beg became a crime, whatever reason an individual might have had for being in such a predicament.

But the law still stands today.

Until recently, it was believed that the Vagrancy Act 1824 had largely withered away in England through lack of use.

But in recent years as the number of homeless people sleeping out has risen, the use of the act has increased, especially in the Metropolitan Police district.

It was introduced initially as a measure to deal with soldiers out of work and economic migrants after the Napoleonic Wars.

Many amendments have been made to the act over the years.