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Consultation launched on decriminalisation of rough sleeping in Northern Ireland
The Trussell Trust calls on NI executive to act on hunger after 35,000 emergency food parcels were distributed across the six counties
Stocks of food at a foodbank

A PUBLIC consultation on proposals to decriminalise rough sleeping and begging in Northern Ireland began today.

Justice Minister Naomi Long has published the consultation on the repeal of section four of the Vagrancy Act 1824 and section three of the Vagrancy (Ireland) Act 1847.

It is seeking views on whether repeal of the 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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