September 1, 2017 – 9:58 am
It has been five years now since section 144 Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (s144 LASPOA 2012) became enforceable, which criminalises residential squatting in England and Wales. The new law continues to impact the vulnerably housed, making squatting more difficult and harder to remain in a property for long.
August 30, 2017 – 12:36 pm
SQUASH NewsRound 2016-17 contains information on:
- Update on LASPO 2012
- Actions: Camesquat, Open House (Oxford), ANAL
- SQUASH called ‘militant group’ by right-wing MSM
- 14th edn of Squatters Handbook released
- DIY Press – SLAP, Nervemeter, Trespass, SqEK, etc
- Audio Interviews – Interference Archive, Dissident Island
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Tagged ANAL, ASS, Autonomous City, camelot, camesquat, deptford, dissident island, election 2017, Grenfell Tower, iffley open house, Interference Archivem, jeremy corbyn, john mcdonnell, nervemeter, oxford, s144 LASPOA, SLAP, SqEK, squatters handbook, Trespass Journal, Vasudevan
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August 23, 2017 – 11:48 am
“In light of the [September 2016] Occupation of Camelot’s former London HQ, Some of us who turned up to support the occupiers during the two day siege of the building thought a brief synopsis of events may be of interest.”
September 1, 2016 – 9:21 am
Four years ago today, squatting in empty residential properties became a criminal offence in England and Wales, with the introduction of section 144 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act (2012). Since then many young and homeless people have felt the effects of the new law, and squatting itself has become an ever more precarious housing option…. SQUASH Newsletter for 1st September 2016.
August 23, 2016 – 5:30 pm
Ad Astra Comix have written an exclusive blog for SQUASH, as they gear up to re-release Seth Tobocman’s classic ‘War in the Neighborhood’, a graphic novel about anti-gentrification resistance in New York’s Lower East Side, in the late 80s/early 90s. The article highlights one the comic’s key themes, the challenge of living together under the intense pressure of radical occupation, relevant today as ever.
Original report, “Squatting Statistics 2015” has been updated as Version 2.0 with additional information on:
1] Prosecutions & Convictions for section 144 & “Begging”: Analysis of Ministry of Justice Criminal Justice statistics, released 19 May 2016
2] Crime Related Incidents (CRI): Greater Manchester Police submitted information about “squatting” CRIs in 2015, providing useful background on Alternative Offences, and evidence of vulnerable adults & children squatting.
On the 11th June 2016, ETC Dee gave a presentation at the DeCentre space in Whitechapel, entitled “Squatting in the Netherlands”. The talk looked at well-known squats & social centres, the 2010 law criminalising squatting and its impact, and finally a history of squatting in the Netherlands. Both the Netherlands and England&Wales have a long squatting history, and both recently had squatting criminalised by their respective right-wing governments. However, there are key differences too: all squatting was criminalised in Holland, and only residential in England&Wales; Holland criminalised squatting two years before England&Wales, and the Dutch government appears more inclined to imprison squatters.
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Tagged ADM, arrests, convictions, dutch, ETC Dee, holland, prosecutions, section 144, squatting, Squatting and Vacancy Act of October 2010, statistics, the netherlands, The snake house
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The latest report, “Squatting Statistics 2015: The link between rising homelessness and the criminalisation of squatting” (May 2016), from Squatters Action for Secure Homes (SQUASH), in partnership with Streets Kitchen, found that 148 people were arrested under section 144 in 2015, bringing the total number of people arrested for the offence to at least 736 since 2012. The criminalisation of squatting in residential properties in England and Wales, through section 144 of the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act (2011), is leading to the arrest of young homeless people in the hundreds, rising street homelessness and is pushing up residential property prices.
Dog Section Press has put together a sample of responses from the 2011 Ministry of Justice consultation on squatting into a nifty little booklet entitled “Options for dealing with squatting” by Persons Unknown. The booklet has a good selection of quotes (both pro- and anti-squat), a well-written introduction, and is the only diverse sample of the 2,000+ responses to the consultation.
March 22, 2016 – 10:11 pm
What the “Living History at Crossroads Women’s Centre” (2015) documentary makes clear the importance of squatting, the act of taking wasted space to meet social needs. Without this simple act, Crossroads Women’s Centre would never have been able to help the many thousands of women they have assisted over the years.
January 11, 2016 – 4:43 pm
Housing Action Southwark and Lambeth (HASL) have initiated a campaign to #SupportYourLocalSquats, specifically those currently occupying the former Charles Edward Brooke secondary school in Lambeth, south London. The building has been empty for over two years, and the owners (St Gabriel’s College) are applying for an Interim Possession Order (IPO, or fast-track eviction) this Tuesday 12 January 2015.
December 11, 2015 – 3:54 pm
Stories in SQUASH NewsRound: September – December 2015:
New Squat Resources
Squats:
Giggs-Neville Hotel in Manchester
Kid’s Company Peckham
Camden Mothership, West Hamsptead
Scumoween Rave, Lambeth Bridge
Squatting-related Articles
Squatting Discussions in Parliament
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Tagged 1970's, camden, camden mothership, Charlie Gilmour, Europe, Gary Neville, hotel, kids company, lambeth bridge, Manchester, maps, NELSN, North East London Squatters Network, parliament, peckham, policing, research, Ryan Giggs, scumoween, SHA, Squatters and Homeless Autonomy, squatting, Stock Exchange, Theo Blackwell, West Hampstead
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September 18, 2015 – 5:11 pm
Stories in SQUASH NewsRound: Squatting Spring 2015
– Fight for the Aylesbury
– Sweets Way & Guinness Trust Occupation
– Liverpool Love Activists
– Reclaim Brixton
– Autonomous Nation of Anarchist Libertarians (aka ANAL)
– Elephant & Castle Social Centre
– Brighton Radical Bank
– Peterborough Squatters Autonomy
– Queer Punx @ The Black Cap
– Land Squats – Runnymede Eco-Village & Grow Heathrow
– Global – Ireland & Brazil
– “Homes, Not Jails” & Further Case Studies
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Tagged ANAL, arrests, aylesbury estate, Brazil, brighton, commercial, elephant and castle, extraction of electricity, focus e15 mothers, Grow Heathrow, guinness trust occupation, illegal evictions, illegal raves, Ireland, jasmin stone, liverpool, love activists, peterborough, Peterborough Squatters Autonomy, queer punx, radical bank, reclaim brixton, runnymede eco village, SHA, sweets way, the black cap
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September 9, 2015 – 2:50 pm
Runnymede is in court, making a constitutional case for why they should remain in occupation. Like all possession cases, the law is rigged in favour of the land-title holders in the interests of that sacred cow, private property. However, the legal team for Runnymede are putting together a bold case, that references a whole gamut of law (common, European, Human and Constitutional), that hits at the heart of land-relations in this time of modern enclosure.
August 7, 2015 – 12:00 pm
Stories in SQUASH NewsRound: July – August 2015:
• 1] Assualt by Police on Person Entering Squat
• 2] Love Activist Free Family Summer Holidays
• 3] Squatting in Parliament
• 4] Mass Eviction of Fadama, Ghana
April 22, 2015 – 11:50 am
Squatting in England and Wales has become increasingly more difficult, unstable and uncertain over the last two and a half years, due in so small part to section 144 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act (s144 LASPOA) which came into force in September 2012. The new law criminalised squatting in empty residential premises, and made what was a civil matter into a criminal offence, meaning that the police and magistrates were now involved. Two years on, SQUASH has released its latest report “Homes, Not Jails” (April 2015), a 28-month review of the effects of s144 LASPOA using freedom of information data and case studies.
Yorkley Court is a land-based occupation on the edge of the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire that has been running as a community farm for almost three years now. It is one of a network of land squats across the country, such as Grow Heathrow (London), Runnymede (Windsor) and Rising Up (Bristol) which are protecting land from unnecessary development and at the same time, engaging in sustainable farming and off-grid living. Yorkley Court, after two years of active campaigning, legal challenges and land defence, is now facing imminent eviction from 1pm, Thursday 12 March 2015 onwards; they will not be leaving quietly, but they also need serious support if they are going to stay put.
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Tagged brian bennett, eviction, eviction resistance, forest of dean, Grow Heathrow, illegal evictions, land occupation, reclaim the fields, richard tolson, yorkley, yorkley court
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February 24, 2015 – 11:43 am
Grow Heathrow will be celebrating their 5th year as a squat and community project; the party starts Friday 27th February and ends Sunday 1st March, with the main celebration on Saturday. The weekend seems jam packed with pizza, workshops, music, theatre, panel discussions and much more; come for the day, or bring a tent & sleeping bag and crash there.
February 5, 2015 – 4:17 pm
Stories in SQUASH NewsRound: January 2015 – February 2015:
1] March for Homes & the Aylesbury Estate Occupation
2] 12 Bar Occupation
3] Love Activists Evicted (again)
4] Crossroads Women’s Centre 40th anniversary Celebration & Film
5] Parliamentary Update
6] Legal Cases
7] Positive Media
8] Negative Media
9] Upcoming Events
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Tagged 12 Bar, 12 bar club, aylesbury estate, block the budget, bohemians4soho, crossrail, crossroads womens centre, History, homelessness, illegal raves, legal cases, London, love activists, march for homes, occupation, PAH, parish council, parliament, squat city rocks, squat parties, Well Grounded
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February 4, 2015 – 7:23 pm
With the increased activity around squatting over the past few months, Squatters Action for Secure Homes (SQUASH) is calling for volunteers to help with a campaign push running up to the General Elections in May and beyond. There are a number of areas to help with, and all help will be greatly appreciated. Read more….
January 27, 2015 – 4:07 am
The squatted 12 Bar in Soho is now the frontline against the complete redevelopment of the West End and Soho. Having executed a brilliant open-mic last Friday (with acts like the Bohemianauts, and Smiley and the Underlass), they are now up in court on Wednesday, facing an Interim Possession Order (IPO) on the building. At an open community meeting on Monday night, ex-employees of the 12 Bar, local workers, students, activists, bohemians and supporters came together to discuss how we could save this culturally significant venue from being demolished. Resist, Occupy, Win!
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Tagged 12 bar club, bohemians4soho, consolidated developements, Crossrial, denmark street, Laurence Kirschel, London, occupation, soho, squatting, tin pan alley
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January 19, 2015 – 7:21 pm
Defend Council Housing and South London People’s Assembly called the “March for Homes” last year, setting a date for Saturday, 31st January 2015. While there was a slow take-up at first, more groups are now getting involved. The Radical Housing Network endorsed the march a few weeks ago, and squatters are organising a squat bloc for the big day. Spread it, network it, get down there.
January 9, 2015 – 1:24 pm
Stories in SQUASH NewsRound: December 2014 – January 2015
Solidarity for Chanti Ollin, Mexico
Parliamentary Whispers
Love Activists Cause Christmas Storm
Occupy Democracy & Operation Safe Winter
Upcoming Events – January 2015
Positive Media – Videos
Positive Media – Articles
Negative Media – Articles
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Tagged Berlin, chanti ollin, crossroads womens centre, focus e15 mothers, Hajdukat Balkan, London, love activists, Made Possible By Squatting, march for homes, mexico, occupy democracy, operation safe winter, parliament, US
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December 2, 2014 – 10:07 pm
The Kent Coroner’s Office will be holding an inquest into the death of Mr Gauntlett, and key questions they will need to answer are: “Was s144 LASPO to blame for Daniel Gauntlett’s death?”, and if so, “Did the state contravene his Article 2 right, namely his Right to Life?”. As s144 LASPO falls apart at the seams (providing proof of “living” or “intending to live”), this human rights angle could see the nail in the coffin for Weatherley’s Law.
Venue: The Coroner’s Office, Archbishops Palace, Mill Street, Maidstone, ME15 6YE
Date: Wednesday, 10th December 2014
Time: 1:30pm
December 1, 2014 – 5:13 pm
Stories in SQUASH NewsRound: June – November 2014
- ALERT: Illegal Evictions on the rise
- The Loss of Social Centres and Public Space Sparks Protests (MIPIM, Europe)
- Focus E15 Mothers Occupation
- Mike Weatherley MP Steps Down
- Comment Pieces on Squatting
- Evening Standard Anti-Squatting Stories
- Squatting on Television
- Squat History: Piccadilly & Berlin
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Tagged BBC, berlin squats, Evening Standard, fenton hall, focus 15 mothers, illegal evictions, Mike Weatherley, MIPIM 2014, picadilly squats, social centres, The Sherriffs are Coming
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House of Brag have established a new squatted Queer Social Centre in Brixton, and will be running a heap of events between June 29th to July 12th 2014, as an alternative to the corporate, homogenised, establishment official (Gay) Pride London.
For more information on events, check their blog: http://houseofbrag.wordpress.com/
Some backbenchers in Parliament have tried but seemingly failed to amend the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill to include the criminalisation of squatting in commercial premises and on land. The attempt took place on the 12th May, and as far as SQUASH can see, the hearing was adjourned before the question of amendment 34 could be pushed to a vote or withdrawn. SQUASH and other squatting groups are taking this seriously. We will be looking into this underhand attempt to further criminalise squatting, and report back as soon as we know more. Please be ready to act once we have ascertained whether this is a real threat or opportunistic politiking.
The Housing Weekender happened over the weekend of 26-27th April 2014, the first day happening at venues across London, and the second taking place at Moreland Street, EC1. The weekend was made up of a mix of events that included a bus tour, puppet show and cardboard-making workshop for kids, film showings, talks, panel discussions and actions.
The Housing Weekender on the 26th and 27th April 2014 is a collaboration among groups from across London, who work on a whole range of housing issues including private renting, access to welfare, squatting, co-operatives and social housing. As the housing crisis grows steadily deeper, and those is power fail to take the necessary action to secure the future of the city, this weekender aims to bring people together to build a movement of practical solidarity, to resist social cleansing and reclaim the city for the people who live here.
Updates for February 2014:
1] Police Evict Protest Squat Camden
2] Lambeth Renters Refuse to Meet Chuka Umunna
3] Questions Raised on Parliament on Squatting
4] Homes Not Jails Demo Report
5] Calais Squats Attacked by Fascists
6] North Devon Pub Occupied
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Tagged Calais, calais migrant solidarity, Camden Housing Action Group, Camden squat, Chuka Umunna, Damian Green, Homes Not Jails, Housing Action Lambeth & Southwark, lambeth renters, LASPO s144, Mary Macleod, North Devon Occupation, Priti Patel
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February 19, 2014 – 3:40 pm
The Met have announced plans to make ‘rough sleeping’ a crime in 6 London boroughs. Operation Encompass will be in effect in Camden, Islington, Lambeth, Southwark and Westminster, alongside Croydon. Demo called for: Wednesday 26 February 2014, 10.00am,
City Hall, The Queen’s Walk, London, SE1
January 22, 2014 – 6:12 pm
MIPIM 2014 will be taking place between 11th and 14th of March in Cannes in the south of France, and is one of global capitalism’s major annual events for all aspects of the property industry, including the buying and selling of land, the planning, construction, financing, facilitation and management of housing and commercial property around the world. There will be some 20,000 participants, from some of the world’s biggest property developers, estate agents, builders and local government, each paying an entry fee of €1,600 per person, coming together to conduct some of the biggest property deals of the decade.
January 20, 2014 – 5:25 pm
The SQUASH NewsRound (dec 2013 – Jan 2014) contains the following articles: 1) Update from the Networks – ASS, SLN, Eviction Resistance, SQUASH, lovesquatting; 2) Iceland skippers arrested; 3) Lib Peck challenged; 4) Brazilian World Cup mass-evictions; 5) MIPIM 2014; 6) Calais Call-out
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Tagged 195 Mare Street, ASS, Brazil, Calais, ER, iceland 3, Lib Peck, lovesquatting, MIPIM 2014, SLN, Tessa Jowell, world cup 2014
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January 14, 2014 – 2:34 pm
The Haldane Society for Socialist Lawyers will be holding a talk on Squatting as part of its Human Rights 2014 lecture series
WEDNESDAY 15 JANUARY 2014
The government’s attack on squatters
Speakers:
David Watkinson – housing barrister
and
Advisory Service for Squatters
All lectures start at 6.30pm
At the University of Law, 14 Store Street, London WC1A 7DE
Admission free
November 25, 2013 – 5:28 pm
On 22nd November 2013, squat campaigners occupied the forecourt of the Tory Constituency Office in Finchley, London, the office of right-wing politician Mike Freer MP, one of the architects behind Section 144 LASPO. Contains statements from both the occupiers and Mike Freer MP, links to Our Media and Mainstream Media sources.
November 21, 2013 – 10:30 am
Article by John McDonnell, Labour MP for Hayes and Harlington, on squatting and Britain’s housing crisis, reproduced from an article in the latest STRIKE! Magazine (Autumn 2013). McDonnell, a staunch supporter of squatting, rips apart the current housing system, the criminalisation of squatting through s144 LASPO and even his fellow Labour MPs who called for the extension of the law to commercial premises. Read more here….
November 18, 2013 – 11:48 am
The 195 free school is a week-long series (18th – 24th November 2013) of grassroots events such as presentations, discussions and skill-shares and much more. The event is free and open to all. There events range from queer politics to welding, with a special Housing Day on Thursday 21st November from 12 noon (see the programme below). SQUASH thoroughly recommend this event for anyone interested in squats and squatting, with the chance to hear from voluntary groups working on the frontline of squatting, housing and homelessness, and get the latest updates on legal rights.
November 8, 2013 – 6:02 pm
SQUASH NewsRound: All Hallows Eve-Guy Fawkes 2013 Special Edition: stories in this edition include: 1) Two Years Ago and the Squatting Picnic, 2) Interview from the Park Street Occupation, 3) Ashmount School Occupation, 4) Dissident Island Radio Show, 5) Squatters Win s144 Appeals (Brighton, Wales), 6) “Weatherley is a Coward” Case Continues, 7) Non-Commercial House Remembered, and STRIKE! Now Out
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Tagged ashmount school, coward, dissident island, housing war, Mike Weatherley, non-commercial house, occupation, park street, picnic, rooftop resistance, s144 appeals
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November 1, 2013 – 2:00 pm
Housing activists have occupied a property 21 & 23 Park Street, just off Borough market which was owned by Southwark council. The building which has been derelict for ages, basically falling apart with just scaffolding to keep it up, was auctioned with a starting price of £2.3 million and sold for £2.9 million, making it the most expensive council house sold. The occupation is also a challenge to section 114 of the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act (LASPO) introduced last September which criminalised squatting in residential properties. Blog includes links to Our Media and Mainstream Media (MSM) articles on the occupation.
October 23, 2013 – 5:28 pm
SQUASH NewsRound September – October 2013: stories in this issue include: 1) Updates from SQUASH, Made Possible and UN Special Rapporteur doing study on UK housing; 2) Illegal break-in at Mare Street, Kabele Social Centre turns 18 and JB Spray squat is lost; 3) Operation Elven and Traveller Repression; 4) Migrant Solidarity in Calais, ZAD Anniversary, and more repression of shack dwellers in South Africa
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Tagged 195 Mare Street, Abahlali baseMjondolo, Bandile Mdlalose, calais migrant solidarity, JB Spray, Kebele Social Centre, Made Possible By Squatting, Operation Elven, Raquel Rolnik, Traveller repression, traveller solidarity, UN Special Rapporteur, ZAD
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September 24, 2013 – 3:33 pm
On the 2nd September 2013, Labour politicians, Chuka Umunna, Tessa Jowell and Lib Peck wrote a letter to Secretary of State for Justice, Chris Grayling, asking that squatting in commercial premises be criminalised. SQUASH responded with an Open Letter, which was picked up by media commentators, prompting further investigation and responses from two of the politicians.
September 17, 2013 – 6:12 pm
SQUASH Newsround August – September 2013 contains the following stories: Letter from Chuka Umunna, Dame Tessa Jowell and Lib Peck re: squatting; Chuka’s response; Owen Jones’ Independent article defending squatting; Vice “expose” Weatherley for being two-faced (shock!); Made Possible By Squatting Exhibition in London comes to a close; Legal Aid Protest; “Using research to expose dodgy dealing” Training
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Tagged 111 Westminster Bridge Road, Chuka Umunna, commercial premises, Dame Tessa Jowell, Lambeth Council, legal aid protest, Lib Peck, Made Possible By Squatting, Mike Weatherley, Owen Jones, parliament, Patmos Lodge, training, Vice
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September 11, 2013 – 12:51 pm
Made Possible by Squatting Exhibition Extravaganza
9th-16th September 2013
Dock Street, London, E1 8JN
Exhibition// Archive// Workshops
August 27, 2013 – 5:26 pm
SQUASH NewsRound July – August 2013: In this edition, the following stories: Cardiff Squatters take on the Prison System, Toilets Squatted in Bath, Mare Street is Back, Update from Made Possible By Squatting, The Mass Sleep Out, Raids on Greek and German Squats, The Australian Museum of Squatting, Old Fadama “slum” to be Bulldozed.
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Tagged ACAB, Australian Museum of Squatting, Cardiff, Ghana, Gremlins, Hackney, Made Possible By Squatting, Maragopouleio, Mare Street, Old Fadama, Parartima, Prison Squat, prisons, Rigaer94, The Mass Sleep Out
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SQUASH NewsRound June – July 2013: In this month’s edition, the following stories: 1) Rushcroft Road Evicted, 2) Eviction Alert for Grow Heathrow, 3) Brixton Anti-Gentrification Demo, 4) SQUASH at the “People’s” Assembly, 5) Stories in the MSM: Barnet Park Squat, Grayling on Commercial, Roma Eviction from Marble Arch, Property Guardians get some bad press, 6) Squat Resources: Mini-doc with Pete the Temp, Squatting Research, new homeless mag Nervemeter, Housing Crisis radio and European anti-eviction resources
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Tagged anti-gentrification, barnet, commercial, eviction resistance, evictions, Grow Heathrow, nervemeter, people's assembly, pete the temp, property guardians, roma, rushcroft road, strike!, unite
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Made Possible by Squatting seeks submissions for an exhibition in September 2013 and an on-line archive that celebrate how squatting has positively affected the lives of individuals & communities in England and Wales.
SQUASH Update; Mike Weatherley Ltd – Open for Business; Squatting the British Press; Squatting Academia; The Global Housing Crisis Continues
The event marked the launch of SQUASH’s 6-month report and impact analysis of section 144 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act (LASPO). It provided an opportunity to discuss what the MP’s, Lords, lawyers and academics could do to help, and highlight Mike Weatherley’s Early Day Motion (EDM) looking to extend criminalisation to commercial premises. Speaking were SQUASH, Crisis, Tuckers Solicitors and the Simon Community.
Press Release For immediate release Campaign to repeal new squatting law launched in Parliament Entitled ‘The Case Against Section 144’, SQUASH (Squatters Action for Secure Homes) are launching a new report and campaign in Parliament today. The report’s findings suggest the major concerns regarding criminalisation that arose during the government’s consultation process have been proven right, with homeless and vulnerable people disproportionately affected. No arrests so far have been for squatters displacing anyone from their home, which does suggest that the Criminal Law Act 1977 was sufficient for dealing with squatters – as predicted by many legal experts. The report […]
December 28, 2012 – 8:52 pm
A guest post from a visitor to a Camden garden centre squat. Having seen their positive effect on the property, she concludes:
“Let’s have pressure for those sitting on empty properties not to be protected by the law, but to act responsibly, to occupy and put them to productive use or lose the privilege of ownership.”
What a joke! All of it, the whole process. Last night the House of Lords passed a clause hidden in the legal aid bill to criminalise squatting in residential properties essentially making thousands of homeless people criminals overnight. A whole section of the very poorest and most vulnerable in society have been made criminals and again the debate took place extremely late in the day. The harsh reality is that the government keeps enough peers at Parliament late at night if they face any risk of defeat while the rest of the Lords (Labour, Crossbenchers, Bishops & others) rarely stay […]
March 27, 2012 – 12:50 pm
It’s a curious move during the worst housing crisis in modern memory, to turn homeless people who shelter in empty homes into criminals looking at a year in prison or a £5000 fine.
This from the government whose leader promised that austerity would not hurt “the vulnerable, the poorest in our society”.
March 16, 2012 – 12:25 pm
A report released today in The Guardian shows that the cost of criminalising squatting could reach £790 million in the first 5 years. ‘Can We Afford to Criminalise Squatting?’ concludes that government plans for criminalisation currently being debated in the House of Lords are “unaffordable” and “that the government has seriously underestimated the financial implications, raising serious questions”. The report is published as proposals to criminalise squatting in residential properties have reached report stage under Clause 136 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders bill (LASPO) currently passing through the House of Lords. It is expected the House […]
The Lords will soon have their final chance to reverse the government’s attempts to criminalise squatting in Clause 136 of the Legal Aid Bill.
With 720,000 empty houses and a stream of new figures on increasing homelessness, this is a bad time to outlaw squatting.
February 22, 2012 – 6:10 pm
Last Wednesday the proposed law to criminalise squatting in residential properties was debated in the House of Lords.
This was, in fact, the first time the clause has been properly debated in Parliament since it was proposed.
February 13, 2012 – 5:25 pm
Lewisham People Before Profit has occupied 5 houses which Lewisham Council wants to sell-off.
In a bid to stop five family houses being sold off at auction today activists entered and peacefully took control of the houses earmarked for “disposal” by Lewisham Council.
October 28, 2011 – 2:53 pm
The Government announced yesterday amendments to the Legal Aid and Sentencing Bill, including a clause to make squatting in residential buildings a criminal offence, with up to 51 weeks imprisonment. They are due to debate and possibly vote on the amendment next Tuesday 1st November in the House of Commons. Yesterday also saw the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) publish their summary of the consultation ‘Options for Dealing with Squatters’ which came to an end on October 5th. There were 2,217 responses and over 90% of responses argued against taking any action on squatting. See this table from the report. The […]
It was good to meet so many of you at the Squash launch event in May. What a reassuring gathering of people opposed to the criminalisation of squatting, and chaired expertly by John McDonnell, thank you. At the event Catherine Sacks-Jones of [Crisis](http://www.crisis.org.uk/) gave a powerful insight into the realities of squatting for the hidden-homeless in England and Wales. [Paul Palmer](http://www.paulpalmer-emptyproperties.co.uk/) provided the facts about empty properties and the speculators who do well out of them.
The Squash launch event took place at the Houses of Parliament on the 18th of May. Presentations were made by Crisis, the Empty Homes Agency, the Advisory Service for Squatters and Squash. We discussed the squatting population, why this legislation is being put forward, and the financial, juridical and social costs of implementation. Perhaps most alarming were anecdotes about the reality of squatting as a crucial safety net for the most vulnerable members of society. It’s striking that the government’s plans would criminalise those already facing desperate circumstances. All in all, the event proved that there is a broad range […]