• Latest
  • Trending
Outdated laws that criminalise homeless must be scrapped: MLA

Outdated laws that criminalise homeless must be scrapped: MLA

Gates Cambridge Scholarship celebrates 20th anniversary

Gates Cambridge Scholarship celebrates 20th anniversary

Israel-Gaza conflict rages as US envoy visits

Israel-Gaza conflict rages as US envoy visits

Police and Crime Commissioner to end funding for heroin addiction treatment scheme

Police and Crime Commissioner to end funding for heroin addiction treatment scheme

News Press Live
  • Home
  • News
    • All
    • Crime
    • Economy
    • News of England
    • News of Northern Ireland
    • News of Scotland
    • News of Wales
    Gates Cambridge Scholarship celebrates 20th anniversary

    Gates Cambridge Scholarship celebrates 20th anniversary

    Israel-Gaza conflict rages as US envoy visits

    Israel-Gaza conflict rages as US envoy visits

    Police and Crime Commissioner to end funding for heroin addiction treatment scheme

    Police and Crime Commissioner to end funding for heroin addiction treatment scheme

    Nicola Sturgeon’s own economic adviser warns Indyref2 puts recovery at risk

    Nicola Sturgeon’s own economic adviser warns Indyref2 puts recovery at risk

    Horse Racing Getting back on track

    Rochdale hopes machine centre will manufacture revival in fortunes

    The sad state of Cardiff city centre after a year of lockdown as shops lose fight to hold on

    The sad state of Cardiff city centre after a year of lockdown as shops lose fight to hold on

    Convoy drives through London shouting  the Jews, rape their daughters’

    Convoy drives through London shouting the Jews, rape their daughters’

    Conflict intensifies in Gaza as Israeli strikes destroy Gaza tower housing

    Trending Tags

      • Crime
      • Economy
      • News of England
      • News of Northern Ireland
      • News of Scotland
    • Royal Family
    • Tv & Showbiz
    • World News
    • JOBS
    • Sport
      • Football
      • Watch Live Score Football (Soccer) Videos
    • Login
    • Register
    • Latest Headlines
    • Advertise With Us
    • Find A Job
    Monday, January 30, 2023
    Watch Live Sport
    • Home
    • News
      • All
      • Crime
      • Economy
      • News of England
      • News of Northern Ireland
      • News of Scotland
      • News of Wales
      Gates Cambridge Scholarship celebrates 20th anniversary

      Gates Cambridge Scholarship celebrates 20th anniversary

      Israel-Gaza conflict rages as US envoy visits

      Israel-Gaza conflict rages as US envoy visits

      Police and Crime Commissioner to end funding for heroin addiction treatment scheme

      Police and Crime Commissioner to end funding for heroin addiction treatment scheme

      Nicola Sturgeon’s own economic adviser warns Indyref2 puts recovery at risk

      Nicola Sturgeon’s own economic adviser warns Indyref2 puts recovery at risk

      Horse Racing Getting back on track

      Rochdale hopes machine centre will manufacture revival in fortunes

      The sad state of Cardiff city centre after a year of lockdown as shops lose fight to hold on

      The sad state of Cardiff city centre after a year of lockdown as shops lose fight to hold on

      Convoy drives through London shouting  the Jews, rape their daughters’

      Convoy drives through London shouting the Jews, rape their daughters’

      Conflict intensifies in Gaza as Israeli strikes destroy Gaza tower housing

      Trending Tags

        • Crime
        • Economy
        • News of England
        • News of Northern Ireland
        • News of Scotland
      • Royal Family
      • Tv & Showbiz
      • World News
      • JOBS
      • Sport
        • Football
        • Watch Live Score Football (Soccer) Videos
      No Result
      View All Result
      News Press Live
      No Result
      View All Result

      Outdated laws that criminalise homeless must be scrapped: MLA

      Outdated laws that criminalise homeless must be scrapped: MLA
      15.4k
      VIEWS
      Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

      Justice officials are facing growing calls to scrap laws which “criminalise homelessness”, after “disturbing” new figures revealed they have been used more than previously thought.

      ast month the Belfast Telegraph reported that 45 people had been convicted in Northern Ireland’s courts since 2015 using the Vagrancy Act 1824.

      This Act was brought in to make it easier for police to remove destitute soldiers returning from the Napoleonic Wars from the streets, and it makes it an offence to sleep rough or beg.

      It has now emerged, however, that another piece of legislation, the Vagrancy Act 1847, is also being used to prosecute rough sleepers and those begging.

      Figures released by Justice Minister Naomi Long in response to an Assembly question from People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll show 271 prosecutions under the 1847 Act since 2015. The latest year the figures are available for, 2019, saw the highest number of prosecutions – 67.

      Since 2015, 254 convictions were secured under the Act, with 2019 again seeing the most at 63. Out of court disposals were also handed out in respect of 174 cases from 2015 to 2019.

      Jim Dennison, chief executive of the Simon Community, said: The differences between the 1824 and 1847 Act figures do suggest that a review of these laws could better ensure that individuals experiencing homelessness and in genuine need are not being negatively impacted.”

      West Belfast MLA Mr Carroll said it is “disturbing” to learn that even more homeless people and those begging have been “criminalised under outdated legislation than previously thought”.

      “It is wrong beyond any doubt to arrest or prosecute people for being in such a vulnerable position. I struggle to understand why moves have not already been made to wipe this law from our books,” he said.

      Mr Carroll will question the Justice Minister about the matter in the Assembly today.

      “But this can only be the beginning. We urgently need to see more public housing and funding for services which deal with people in need. The pandemic has left people in perilous positions and too many have been allowed to fall through the cracks.”

      Tony McQuillan, director of the charity Shelter NI, said both Vagrancy Acts continue to criminalise homeless people and they do nothing to help tackle the root causes of homelessness.

      “Our view is that every person prosecuted as a vagrant because they are homeless is one person too many,” he said.

      “It could also prevent someone from accessing outreach services that support homeless people to move away from the streets. We believe there is a need to repeal the act to eliminate the criminalisation of homelessness.”

      A Department of Justice spokesperson said Ms Long is aware of the issue, and has asked officials to review the use of this legislation, “taking account of developments in neighbouring jurisdictions, and to advise her of their findings in the coming months”.

      — to www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk

      Share308Tweet193SendSendShare54Pin69

      RelatedPosts

      London

      Horse Racing Getting back on track

      Joe Biden opposes guarded border between Ireland and Northern Ireland | US News
      BREAKING NEWS

      President Biden Promises to Slash Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 50 Percent by 2030

      Champions League last 16 lowdown, team news, stats: Liverpool boost, PSG revenge? | Football News
      BREAKING NEWS

      Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli says European Super League can no longer go ahead

      Prince Harry Shares What Remembrance Means to Him Ahead of Remembrance Sunday
      BREAKING NEWS

      Prince Harry ‘back in the UK’ ahead of Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral on Saturday

      Prince Philip is dead
      BREAKING NEWS

      Prince Philip is dead

      Boy, 15, charged with stabbing female police officer in London
      BREAKING NEWS

      A serving Metropolitan Police officers is being investigated over claims he raped two of his colleagues.

      Recommended Stories

      London Tier 2 rules to come into force from midnight on Friday as capital faces tough new lockdown measures

      London Tier 2 rules to come into force from midnight on Friday as capital faces tough new lockdown measures

      Turkish Grand Prix: Lance Stroll takes pole position after chaotic qualifying session

      Turkish Grand Prix: Lance Stroll takes pole position after chaotic qualifying session

      Peaky Blinders season 6: Where is Peaky Blinders season 6 being filmed? | TV & Radio | Showbiz & TV

      Peaky Blinders season 6: Where is Peaky Blinders season 6 being filmed? | TV & Radio | Showbiz & TV

      Popular Stories

      • Joe Biden opposes guarded border between Ireland and Northern Ireland | US News

        President Biden Promises to Slash Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 50 Percent by 2030

        2636 shares
        Share 1054 Tweet 659
      • Prince Philip is dead

        2632 shares
        Share 1053 Tweet 658
      • Two US Capitol police officers injured after suspect rams car into barrier and stabbed. Suspect dead

        2372 shares
        Share 949 Tweet 593
      • Prince Harry ‘back in the UK’ ahead of Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral on Saturday

        2143 shares
        Share 857 Tweet 536
      • Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli says European Super League can no longer go ahead

        2115 shares
        Share 846 Tweet 529
      News Press Live

      © 2021 Copyright - All rights reserved.

      Navigate Site

      • About Us
      • Terms & Conditions
      • Private Policy
      • Advertise With Us
      • Contact Us

      Follow Us

      No Result
      View All Result
      • Home
      • News
        • Crime
        • Economy
        • News of England
        • News of Northern Ireland
        • News of Scotland
      • Royal Family
      • Tv & Showbiz
      • World News
      • JOBS
      • Sport
        • Football
        • Watch Live Score Football (Soccer) Videos

      © 2021 Copyright - All rights reserved.

      Welcome Back!

      Login to your account below

      Forgotten Password? Sign Up

      Create New Account!

      Fill the forms bellow to register

      All fields are required. Log In

      Retrieve your password

      Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

      Log In
      Are you sure want to unlock this post?
      Unlock left : 0
      Are you sure want to cancel subscription?