November 8, 2011  

Criminalisation of squatting

At the October Wandsworth Council meeting the decision to support the criminalisation of squatting was supported without comment. Today, less than a month later, it is clear that the move to make squatting a criminal offence, as opposed to a civil one, is being opposed by Shelter and most significant housing charities and associations.

The UK’s 99% protesters include it as one of their complaints about current political developments and yet Wandsworth councillors agreed it without comment.

Squatting has, of course, been a problem for the “authorities” since the first property rights were established. Personally, and emotionally, I rather support the aboriginal view that it is clearly absurd for anyone to claim they own “the land”. But unfortunately that simple philosophy long since bit the dust here in civilised Britain.

That squatting is not a criminal offence speaks volumes for the wisdom of UK lawmakers over the years. Making squatting a criminal offence will not solve the problem of the conflict between the housing rich and the housing poor – it will merely drive the problem into hidden corners, criminalising the desperate homeless.

If enforced, it would bring people into the prison system for the penalty of being poor and homeless. And if squatting were to occur on a widepread scale, then it would be impossible to enforce systematically. It would certainly bring the law into disrepute.

That’s why historically governments refrain from criminalising strike action, though many would dearly love to.

See http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/nov/03/criminalising-squatting-law-trespass-homeless for another comment.

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About Tony Belton

Labour Councillor for Latchmere Ward 1972-2022, now Battersea Park Ward, London Borough of Wandsworth Ever hopeful Spurs supporter; Lane visit to the Lane, 1948 Olympics. Why don't they simply call the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, The Lane? Once understood IT but no longer

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