Police arrested around 12 people last night following a series of protests over the possible criminalisation of squatting in residential buildings, via an amendment due to be discussed today in parliament (1st nov).

After meeting at various points including outside the Evening Standard offices, a picnic in parliament square and the surrounding area were kettled and assaulted by police. A Halloween critical mass bicycle ride of around 300 people also supported the earlier protests, as did people from the Occupy London protest camps. See further protests and lobbying today.

Reports [1 2 3 4][qikvid][SQUASH campaign]

#StopClause26

We didn’t all get arrested last night! This is what you can do today to stop clause 26 to prevent the criminalisation of the homeless.

• 9am – Gather outside Westminster Housing Options Service, 101 Orchardson Street NW8 for a workshop on how to register homeless by The Simon Community

• 12noon – Gather outside Parliament – Rally to show opposition and workshop on how to lobby your MP by Squash Campaign on the law concerning squatting as it stands, and of the impacts New Clause 26 would involve by a Housing Lawyer

• 3pm – Squash has booked a room in Parliament for you to meet your MP in, where they can be briefed fully on why to oppose the criminalisation of squatting. To arrange this, call your MP ASAP requesting a face to face meet up in Committee Room 20 in the House of Commons from 3pm – 5pm.

• 5pm – Critical mass bicycle ride in support of squatting around central London with soundsystem – meet under Waterloo Bridge, Southbank