The House of Lords, on 28th March, during their debates on clause 136 to criminalise squatting, agreed with the Government to make it a criminal offence to squat in residential buildings. However, the definition of residential buildings is vague, so it could possibly come to include non-residential buildings once enforced. This will be clarified by legal challenges that groups such as the Advisory Service for Squatters and Squash will pursue in the coming months. This is currently what they defined as residential building:

(a) “building” includes any structure or part of a structure (including a temporary or moveable structure), and

(b) a building is “residential” if it is designed or adapted, before the time of entry, for use as a place to live.

This Clause is a part of the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill and is yet to receive Royal Assent, this is likely to happen on the 9th May. Royal Assent means the Monarch formally approves and promulgates an act of her nation's parliament, making it a law. After Royal Assent the Secretary of State must commence the law, but prior to commencement the Government must consult and prepare a number of organisations whom will be affected by the change in law, these include: National Homeless Advice Service, Citizens Advice, Crisis, ACPO, Local Authorities.

The consultation prior to commencement could take an unknown quantity of time, and the law will stay the same until it is completed then commenced.

It is important that this information is understood and that the current law is the only law enforced by Police.

If you are organising and preparing for the coming criminalisation of squatting get in touch with local anti eviction networks and squatter networks, here are but a few: Bristol Housing Action Movement ( http://www.public-interest.co.uk/bham/), Squatters Network of Brighton (and Hove actually) , Squattastic ( http://squattastic.blogspot.co.uk/), North East London Squatters Network, Okasional Café, Autonomous London ( https://londonscn.wordpress.com/), Kebele ( http://www.kebelecoop.org/)

If you need legal advice contact the Advisory Service for Squatters ( http://www.squatter.org.uk/) - 020 3216 0099

Squatters Network of Brighton (and Hove actually) have called a Squatters Convergence in Brighton Thurs 17th – Sun 20th May 2012, this is a good place to share information and to strengthen networks and resilience.

Whatever they say squatting will stay!