Monthly Archives: October 2012

An Organised Gang Drove Off With My House of Commons!!

In the rubble of this market failure is the well hidden reality of abundance. But if we treat houses like cars, instead of essential things that we all need and must find a way of managing fairly, we give people the incentive to steal them.

SQUASH NewsRound: October 2012

The News Round will be a fortnightly event, keeping tabs on articles being posted in MainStream Media (MSM) sources, as well as independent channels (eg IMC, SchNEWS) about squatting, the new law (s.144) and possible new legislation (eg commercial). Contains features on: squatting former bank in Clifton, Bristol, harassment at the House of Brag (LGBT squat), Gremlin Alley squat in Cardiff, blogs on new law (s.144), and the Tory attack on social housing.

When poverty and homelessness become a criminal matter

The new law criminalising squatting starts to bite (First squatter jailed under new law, 27 September), and what a chilling headline that is – accepting as inevitable that this is just the first. We see a young man, an apprentice bricklayer, imprisoned for three months, and his two housemates awaiting sentence. It seems likely that he will lose his apprenticeship and be discharged from prison – homeless and with a criminal record.

Lawyer calls on Labour to repeal s.144

Alistair Mitchell, a barrister from Foregate Chambers, recently found himself being courted by Andy Burnham from the Labour Party for their support. Outraged by the injustice of section 144, he has called upon the party to campaign for the repeal of this draconian legislation. Here is his letter: Dear Andy, I was appalled that the Labour Party failed to oppose the passing of s.144 LAPSO to criminalise homeless people who squat. Indeed, your Shadow Justice Secretary went out of his way to support the new law with a statement on your website. S.144 was passed with just 90 minutes of […]