London: Protest occupation camp against Section 144 squatting law at Finchley Tory Office of Mike Freer MP

By: dolph-l - November 24th, 2013  Filed under: News

Mike Freer MP is a co-architect of the controversial ‘Section 144′ law that criminalises squatting in domestic properties.

On 22nd November 2013, campaigners arrived to protest and camp outside his constituency office (the Finchley building that used to be Margaret Thatcher’s office).

At first, in a PR move, he invited them off the pavement and onto the forecourt, but as many local people showed their support, and others arrived to protest, towards the end of the day he changed his mind. However, the squatters pointed out to the police that he would now need to put that in writing and to apply to a court, which he would be unable to do now before Monday morning, so the camp remains over the weekend at least. [Read More]

Tags: , , ,

Utrecht: Appeal results

By: sisulscz - November 20th, 2013  Filed under: News

On November 18th, the appeal of the nine Ubica arrestees concluded. Everyone has been sentenced to imprisonment for one month and 120 hours of community service (or alternatively 60 days in prison). In addition, there will be a compensation of € 12,000 to be paid.

The judge sentenced eight of the detainees to one month in prison and the other to six weeks. Together they have to pay compensation of € 14,750. The prosecution demanded a sentence of two months for all detainees and also the same compensation. The written judgement follows later.

In addition to this, there is still the civil proceedings brought by the police and the municipality of Utrecht, in which nearly € 50,000 in compensation is asked for.

Roughly translated from https://www.indymedia.nl/node/20048

Donations to http://ak-utrecht.nl/ubica

Tags: , , ,

Hackney, London: Free School next week at Mare Street

By: dolph-l - November 16th, 2013  Filed under: News

50+ events over 7 days now organised!

195 Mare Street, Hackney, London.

The week has been split as follows:

  • Mon 18th  Resistance / Awareness
  • Tue 19th  DIY / Cooking
  • Wed 20th  Technology / Ecology
  • Thu 21st  Housing / Benefits / Practical Squatting
  • Fri 22nd  Queer and Feminist
  • Sat 23rd  Arts / Music / Creative
  • Sun 24th  Arts / Music / Creative

For list of events (and updates) see: 195 Mare Street @ radar.squat.net [Read More]

Tags: , ,

North Finchley, London: The Bohemia pub evicted

By: dolph-l - November 16th, 2013  Filed under: News

The squatters who took over the former pub The Bohemia pub in Finchley have been evicted after police and bailiffs smashed through barricades in dramatic scenes this afternoon.

At just after 5pm around 20 High Court bailiffs joined by police, including canine units, forced their way through the rear entrance of the pub in North Finchley High Road before the occupiers, who entered the building in September, agreed to leave quietly.

The squatters had turned the abandoned building into a community hub following its sudden closure in August. [Read More]

Tags: , , , ,

Warsaw (Poland): Przychodnia attacked – statement

By: fawda - November 11th, 2013  Filed under: Communique, News
Squat_Przychodnia_under_attack_Warsaw_Poland

Around 3:45 pm the participants of the independence march attacked Przychodnia social centre. It is owing only to our own determination and calmness that we managed to resist the nationalist aggression. A few people were injured but nobody’s life is in danger.

Neo-fascists were prepared to comment on the matter in the media and immediately informed that it was the people from the squat who attacked their march from the roof throwing stones in their direction. It is obvious that it was impossible because the end of Skorupki street, where the building is located, is around 200 meters from Marszałkowska street, along which nationalists were marching. [Read More]

Tags: , ,

Brighton: Fuck s144! Some quick analysis

By: sisulscz - November 8th, 2013  Filed under: News

Our three friends who were accused of the “offence” of occupying an unused allegedly residential building have all now been cleared of any “crime.” The three were arrested in Brighton last year, just two days after the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act (LASPO 2012) had become law. When they came to trial, two had charges dropped, the other one was convicted purely on the word of a copper. On appeal, this conviction was quashed on October 31, over a year later. So finally we can celebrate!

Now at last we can talk about the case and what it means for squatting. Basically, the news is good. Very good in fact. This new law is unenforceable, just as groups such as Squatters Action for Secure Housing (SQUASH) and the Squatters Network of Brighton and Hove always maintained.
[Read More]

Tags: , , ,

Mold (Wales): Another squatting case collapses on appeal at Crown Court

By: sisulscz - November 8th, 2013  Filed under: News

Resistance to s.144 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act (LASPO) 2012 that outlaws squatting in residential buildings is growing. Ultimately, the law may prove unworkable and unenforceable.

Ten days ago, squatters occupied a residential council property in Southwark in protest at the sell-off of council houses and the criminalisation of squatting under s.144. Last week, a Brighton squatter was acquitted on appeal as the prosecution failed to prove he was living at the property. His two co-defendants had previously been acquitted on the same charge.

Yesterday, another case collapsed when the Crown Prosecution Service presented no evidence at Mold Crown Court against Tristan Dixon who was appealing his conviction under s.144.
[Read More]

Tags: , , , ,

Southwark, London: Interview with occupiers of the residential building on Park Street

By: dolph-l - November 2nd, 2013  Filed under: Interviews

Nestled in a quiet street between the river and Borough Market, surrounded by expensive butchers, wine bars and offices for start-up PR companies and various institutional offshoots of the Globe Theatre sits 21-23 Park Street. The nearly 200 year old building originally housed managers at the nearby Anchor Brewery, but was sold to Southwark Council who used it as part of their housing stock.

The building made headlines last week as news that the council was auctioning off the property with a reserve of  £2.25 million earned it the title of “the most expensive council house in Britain”. On Monday, just as news that the property had been sold for  £2.96 million began circulating, it also became clear that the building had been occupied by local residents, some of whom are part of a new mutual support group called Housing Action Southwark & Lambeth, in an attempt to prevent the sale of yet more public housing. Having attempted to identify a number of possible offences, it became clear that police had no legal recourse to arrest the occupants, and they left. [Read More]

Tags: , , , , ,

Brighton: Section 144 appeal successful! Calling Mike Weatherley MP a coward case continues

By: dolph-l - November 1st, 2013  Filed under: News

We won the appeal!!

A squatter convicted under s144 had the conviction unanimously overturned for lack of ANY evidence. Our barrister was ninja and the judge laid down some stringent guidelines on what the police must do to establish proof that someone lives in a squat. Unfortunately he refused to define what constitutes residential…

A deeper analysis will follow, for now we can only say if you are accused of squatting a residential building, don’t talk to police at all (no comment interview) and plead not guilty. This law is fucked and unenforceable.

Also, the #mikeweatherleyisacoward case continues so our @housingwar twitter will continue with court updates. Continue reading for tweets from court today:

[Read More]

Tags: , , , , , ,