Draft update leaflet of new squatting law info

Defend our Rights – Squatting law update as of May 2012

‘This law is unjust. This law is unworkable. This law is uneconomic.’
“…Clause 145 is wrong in principle. It is unfair because it treats what is a homelessness and welfare issue as a criminal justice issue, and it is unnecessary because residential home owners are already protected in law.” [Baroness Lister in the House of Lords]]

1. Don’t panic, Squatting is not illegal yet. Section 6 rights still apply.

2. You’re not alone; there are thousands (estimated 20-50,000} of squatters in residential properties; this will make the new law very hard to enforce and potentially unworkable.

3. Private tenants and those in social housing are also vulnerable under the laws; many groups are forming in response to the new legislation – both squat and not. Squatters are not alone in this time of housing insecurity.

4. In Holland, anti squatting legislation was successfully challenged under the European human rights legislation. People still need to be taken to court to be evicted. In the UK, legal experts are already building a case to challenge this legislation in the European Court of Human Right – under right to family life (Article 8)

5. In the government consultation, 96% of people who replied said don’t criminalise squatting including the Police Federation, Judges and the Law society. Criminalising squatting in residential properties is not popular legislation, it has and will continue to come under attack from all sectors of society.

6.The police and bailiffs may act as if the law has already come into force. It has not. Inform them of this and refer them to the contacts at the end of this leaflet if further clarification is needed.

7.The commencement order has not been made, meaning we don’t know yet when the law will take effect.
8.Legal Aid, Sentencing  and Punishment of  Offenders Act 2012 Section 144 Offence of squatting in a residential building The new law makes it a crime where:
You trespass in a residential building, and
You entered the building as a trespasser (rather than e.g. by invitation), and
You know or ‘ought to know’ that you are a trespasser, and
You are living in the building or intend to live there (for any length of time)
It is not a crime to remain in a building after the end of a lease or licence, even if you leave and re-enter the building.
The law only applies to ‘residential buildings.’ A building is “residential” if it is designed or adapted, before the time of entry, for use as a place to live – in other words if commercial premises are squatted and turned into residential premises by the squatter, the law won’t apply.
 Its still legal to squat empty unused commercial buldings,eg :factories,shops,churches,community centres,warehouses,pubs,land for eco villages,etc.derelict/unused space.
Penalty
If convicted of this offence by the court, the maximum penalty is
Imprisonment for 51 weeks Or a fine not more than £5,000 Or both a fine and imprisonment
Police powers
Police can enter and search squatted premises to arrest a person for squatting.
Other things
- Building” includes any structure or part of a structure,  including a temporary or moveable structure
- The fact that you got title to the building from a trespasser, or have permission to be in the building from a trespasser, does not mean you are not a trespasser.
Be prepared for when this legislation comes into force. We need to work as a community to fight this together. This law will be resisted all the way. Together, we will show this law is unworkable.

Build networks of solidarity
Have regular meetings, meals, socials, football games,parties.
Turn up to eviction resistances
Build solid networks: Phone trees/ text groups Build email lists.
Network with other housing groups and local communities
Side step the government, self organize
Tell SQUASH and other groups about positive squatting case studies, illegal evictions by police and bailiffs and other information that would be useful media and court cases. Filming can help..

Timeline:
May – Queen gave Royal Assent, therefore law is now on the statute books; the law is not in force until a consultation has been conducted,maybe by Sept.
May-September (?): consultation period when the government will consult local authorities, police, and housing and affected groups to inform them and assess the impacts of the new law. During this period the law and its implementation will be clarified
September onwards: Prosecution cases will start to define how these cases are handled by the courts, eg setting precedents, punishments, evidence. There may be opportunities to repeal Section 136 of LASPO.100,000 signatures on a petition to Parliament would start this process.

For more and updated info check
1) Squash – Squatters Action for secure Homes www.squashcampaign.org
Provide positive case studies and support when dealing with the media.
2) Advisory Service for Squatters (A.S.S) www. squatter.org.uk
Help with court proceedings, illegal evictions
3 )Squatters Legal Network sln@aktivix Assisting with legal cases, arrestee support
4) Squatters Eviction Resistance Network: evictionresistance@squat.net 07591 415860
Support and advice before, during and after an eviction attempt.
The government said that it would not bring in any new laws to unnecessarily criminalise people, yet they are criminalising the homeless in a housing crisis, which makes this law unjust and unworkable.
The whole process has been a shambles of undemocratic principles.
It will cost the government an estimated 790 million to implement [SQUASH Report], even though the aim was to cut Legal Aid expenditure by 350 million. This new law will be difficult to interpret and enforce, taking up massive amounts of police time.
In response, we need to work as a community to fight this together. By:
Build networks of solidarity,Have regular meetings, meals, socials, Turning up to eviction resistances
Phone trees/ text groups,Build email links,network network network.

There are over a million empty buildings in a housing crisis-Take Action Keep Networking

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Phoenixs new blog,latest action and updates

Increasingly the main stream media is not covering the amazing actions and events across the globe,so im doing my own blog to network further.
Check http://phoenixrainbow23.blogspot.co.uk/
If u like it check it regular,befriend it,  carry on the eco action and community work of the last 20 years,love n resistance p

phoenixrainbow23.blogspot.com

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New Save our squats exhibition opens

New Save our squats exhibition opens
2-4 Tufnel park Rd N7 0dl
07721 375374 email squatteractiongroup@gmail.com
Exhibition opens weds 19th october 3-9pm.
Then continues tues-sunday 3-9pm till Nov 6th 2011.
Please come visit and help save squatting.
Bring display materials photo,art ,films etc
Network it www.squattershousingactiongroup.wordpress.com

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Defend your Rights to protest,trespass,shelter and squat

Defend your Rights
Housing / Tenants Rights ,Rights to Shelter/Trespass and Protest

The Government and their property developer friends are planning to criminalise trespass/squatting. There is a consultation process running until October 5th 2011
The proposed legislation will impact on all members of our society, empower unscrupulous landlords to use violence to evict people,burdening the inadequate housing system, justice system, police / charities. Criminalising the homeless/poor while in the middle of a housing/financial crisis.

The proposed new laws could affect:
- Tenants: accused by landlords of being squatters for being behind with rent.
- Students and workers occupations of Universities and workplaces.
- Our Rights to Protest and set up Peace and Climate camps
- Squatters, Gypsies and Travellers / The Homeless, poor and vulnerable
The proposed legislation could change trespass from a civil to a criminal offence, affecting all our ancient land rights to shelter in abandoned buildings.

The Government consultation : http://www.justice.gov.uk/consultations/dealing-with-squatters.htm
The SQUASH campaign provides guidelines on: replying to the consultation,
www.squashcampaign.org/resources/respond-to-the-consultation/ ( A quick response guide)
www.squashcampaign.org , email info@squashcampaign.org

SQUATTASTIC :Organise and mobilise in your area. There are monthly meetings in London www.squattastic.blogspot.com Phone 07757009150
.
Housing Solidarity : are building a radical housing movement as part of the
wider struggles against austerity by raising awareness of the housing crisis and housing benefit cuts. http://housolidarity.wordpress.com , Twitter #housolidarity

Advisory Service for Squatters www.squatter.org.uk ,Phone 02032160099
email advice@squatter.org.uk

What you can do:
1.Reply to the Government consultation using SQUASH guidelines.
2.Set up a Housing Support Group in your area.
3.Sign petitions on 38 Degrees http://tinyurl.com/38degreessavesquatting
4.Take direct action www.squattershousingactiongroup.wordpress.com
email: squattersactiongroup@gmail.com
5.Write to / visit your MP, local council / the media, to ask what they
are doing to defend our rights and campaign against this unjust proposal for a new law.
DONT PANIC !! Just DO Something
Organise mobilise, keep networking, take action, “Whatever they say squatting will stay”

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Save our rights to protest trespass and squat

Weblinks for Save our rights to protest trespass and squat
www.squashcampaign.org
www.squattastic.blogspot.com (monthly meetings to organise )

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NEW Squash campaign guidelines on govt consultation

check www.squashcampaign.org for guidelines on how to reply to the governments consultation on criminalising trespass and squatting.an attack on our rights to protest and shelter.
The proposed laws can affect Tenants Workers and students occupations.

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Squattastic meeting sun 17th july getting organised for mobilise

Very good squattastic meeting today Sun 17th Jully2011 organising an mobilising to defend our rights to trespass,protest and squat,against the criminalisation of squatters/homeless,for tenants rights.Consultation launched : we have 12 weeks.
Minutes soon posted on squattastic.blogspot.com
Squatters Action Group formed : next 3 dates for action group
1) sat 23rd July direct action / climbing training at Dale Farm Essex noon onwards bring tents
2) sat 6th aug 2-6pm action group meet at well furnished 11 terrace rd e9 hackney.
3) 27/28th august direct action workshop and training weekend at Dale Farm Essex

Working groups formed :arts n Culture,direct action,legal,next squattastics,benefit events/squatters ball,squash research
Links made to groups/feedback from groups in cities,Bristol,Brighton,Manchester,Leeds,Nottingham
Also Housingsolidaritymovement (housolidarity – twitter)
Students groups from Uni occcupations.
Housing groups and co-ops
also check websites : squashcampaign.org
dalefarm.wordpress.com and defendtherightto protest.org
facebook group ‘ i used to squat and dont want to see it criminalised’

Next squattastic sunday 7th aug.
Keep Networking
Whatever they say squatting will stay

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Squatting support campaign update

for latest info on the campaign to protect our ancient squatters rights.
check www.squashcampaign.org
or www.squattastic.com

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Squatting is under threat time to mobilise

Squatting is under threat time to mobiliseNext squattastic meeting Sunday April 3rd ,Network it.

http://squattastic.blogspot.com/

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Ken Clarke attempts to make squatting illegal- Resistance NOW

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23933443-ken-clarke-to-toughen-law-on-squatting-after-spate-of-sit-ins.do

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