His work is aimed at assisting law enforcement, and ridding the country of rogues, so that parishes can concentrate their spending on the relief of the deserving poor.
In particular, he pressed for wholesale reform of the workhouse system, for better treatment of the deserving poor, and removal of the taint of pauper from children.
Most subsequent legislation built on the principles of provision for the local deserving poor and punishment of mobile and undeserving sturdie beggars.