First police raids due to new squatting law

Two 22-year-olds and a 29-year-old have been taken into custody while two other men, who were on the roof of the building in Brighton , made their way down and were not arrested, according to police.

While squatting was previously treated as a civil matter, new legislation that came into effect at the weekend has created a new offence punishable by up to six months’ jail and fines up to £5,000 in England and Wales.

Mike Weatherley, the Conservative Member of Parliament for Hove and Portslade, is backing Sussex Police in making the first raid in the country which uses the new squatting law which came into force on 1st September.

Mike can confirm that Sussex Police reviewed the new legislation and decided to take action on a squat on London Road in Brighton. The property in question has a commercial ground floor with a residential flat above. Squatters have so far attempted to resist arrest by gluing themselves inside the building and by climbing out onto the roof.

Mike has been campaigning for squatting to be criminalised since his election to Parliament in 2010 and has been supported by the Prime Minister, as well as his colleague the Rt Hon Kenneth Clarke QC MP, Secretary of State for Justice. Squatting is a huge problem in Brighton & Hove, with numerous instances of this organised and frequently menacing behaviour blighting the lives of ordinary people. Irate squatters have dubbed the new law “Weatherley’s Law” following Mike’s campaign to introduce the new legislation. The law came into force on Saturday 1st September.

Commenting, Mike said: 

“I’m fully behind Sussex Police taking this swift action to enforce these new powers. Squatters knew that their anti-social actions would face consequences from 1st September, so it is welcome news the new law is being enforced. I have been campaigning since my election to Parliament to have squatting criminalised, so it is encouraging to see justice finally served.”