Police are being urged to take advantage of new laws that will allow them to move in and arrest squa

[Sandman]

The law had to be changed, headline grabbing incidents of

immigrants abusing the laws, moving into places that were

only empty for renovation, owners expecting to move into

their property being told to fcuk off. Now it is a criminal matter

and squatters can be jailed, the fine is stupid because there

is no way it will be paid, the problems will start when squatters

with children are arrested, and if as I think many will ignore the

law, our courts will overflow.

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/9510071/Police-must-move-in-and-arrest-squatters-says-Minister.html

[jar]

I too enjoy the pleasure it gives me to see these leeches on society being stopped from taking over someones property and usually not respecting the contents. I could never understand why it was allowed to occur in the first place. There are a few other things that fall into the same category that should be introduced to protect the victims from those that can get away with it.

[ewill]

There was something on the radio earlier about this - basically
supporting it- but pointing out that the previous administration had
passed legislation allowing local authorities to ''grab' empty houses
after 6 months(I think) , do them up if needed , let them out for 7
years at heavily subsidised rents and deduct all expenses (repairs/
admin etc) from any rents received- if there is a surplus then the
true owner would be paid it after the 7 year period. The owner has
little say in the matter once the council has the property in their
sites unless they can rent or sell it immediately.This seems to make
it OK for a council to take over a property without consent but it's
an offence for individuals to do so.

> http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/9510071/Police-m...

[jar]

so in effect the council become even worse than the squatters lets hope that this new ruling stops that little game

[Affa]

 

 

I believe the law already provides for such squaters as you describe to be removed ........ it isn't enforced that often

 

 

 

[ewill]

Squatting in resdential property in England and Wales has only been
actionable in civil courts unless the offence of criminal damage was
caused on entry or utilities are being stolen (gas/electric) , more
recently it has been possible made homeless by the squat to demand
they leave . In 20 minutes time squatting will become a criminal
offence in England and Wales for the first time .

The new law does not apply to non residential property

Squatting has been a criminal offence under Scottish law for
approximately 150 years