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.

Ms Long said: “I do not believe it is appropriate to criminalise people who are simply begging but who are not otherwise behaving in a way that would attract criminal sanction.

“I am fully aware that begging and rough sleeping are often linked to underlying issues, such as poverty, alcohol and drug addiction, poor mental health, sexual and domestic abuse and family breakdown.

“These are complex and cross-cutting issues which require a multiagency response of support, rather than criminalising people under arcane laws simply because of their personal circumstances.”

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The department said it was particularly keen to hear from those involved in the delivery of health and social care and organisations in the voluntary and community sector that support people who are begging or sleeping rough.

Meanwhile, the British government was urged to act on hunger today after 35,000 emergency food parcels were distributed across Northern Ireland.

Anti-poverty charity the Trussell Trust said the figure includes 14,000 parcels for children facing hunger.

It has urged the Labour government and the Northern Ireland executive to take decisive action.

The number of parcels provided between April and September this year is 13 per cent down on the same period last year, but the charity said it is 93 per cent higher than the same period five years ago.

“As both the Northern Ireland Executive and UK government hold back from more decisive action to ensure everyone can afford the essentials, the sheer numbers of people still facing hunger and hardship across Northern Ireland is heartbreaking,” said Jonny Currie, network lead for Northern Ireland at the Trussell Trust.

“This cannot go on and we refuse to stand by while so many of us are pushed to the brink, left without enough money to live on.

“The UK government was elected with a manifesto pledge to end the need for emergency food and the time to act is now. The Northern Ireland executive also has a vital role to play.

“That’s why we are urgently calling on both to plan urgent and decisive action to end hunger once and for all.”