Traditionally, rogue and vagabond offences were crafted in a broad manner, giving police more discretion by creating a lighter burden of proof than other offences (without requirements relating to conduct, causation or intention) and allowing arrests on mere suspicion and without a warrant. Sociologists have suggested three main purposes for English vagrancy laws: To curtail the mobility of persons and criminalise begging, thereby ensuring the availability of cheap labour to land owners and industrialists whilst limiting the presence of undesirable persons in the cities To reduce the costs incurred by local municipalities and parishes to look after the poor To… Read more »