Vagrancy Act 1824, Section 3 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 03 May 2025. 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.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F1[F2every 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 [F3, 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, . . . F4 for any time not exceeding one calendar month.
Textual Amendments
F1Words repealed by National Assistance Act 1948 (c. 29), Sch. 7 Pt. I
F2Words repealed (E.W.) by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1989 (c. 43), s. 1(1), Sch. 1
F3Words inserted by Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48), Sch. 14 para. 1(a)
F4Words omitted by virtue of Criminal Justice Act 1948 (c. 58), s. 1(2)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1Unreliable marginal note.
C2S. 3 extended by Universities Act 1825 (c. 97), s. 3
C3S. 3 amended by Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48), s. 70
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