Mandated by policy passed at Student Council on 5th December, Max Wakefield (Vice President: Community) has written to Lord Puttnam and Baronesses Linklater and Butler-Sloss to ask them to vote against clause 130 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing, and Punishment of Offenders (LAPSO) Bill, which is passing through the House of Lords this month and would criminalise squatting in residential properties.
He wrote that:
'Three main arguments demonstrate why Clause 130 of the LAPSO Bill is unnecessary and would be, if passed, socially damaging, unjust and expensive in a time of austerity.
First, a new law is unnecessary, as the existing criminal and civil law already protects people well, despite media disinformation to the contrary. This has been emphasized by the Law Society, Criminal Bar Association and Metropolitan Police (amongst others), all of whom were among the 96% of respondents to the Government’s consultation on squatting who opposed its criminalisation, which can be found here: http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/consultations/options-dealing-squatting-response.pdf.
Second, this law will impact on some of the most vulnerable people in society, exacerbating the twin crises of homelessness and empty properties. Homelessness charities including Shelter and Crisis are highly concerned about this.
Third, the law is unaffordable, both to housing and homelessness providers and the justice system, including the police.'
And asked:
'...on behalf of Bristol Students’ Union, that you oppose Clause 130 of the LAPSO Bill for the reasons given above and in the SQUASH Lords briefing. At second best, I ask that you vote in favour of the alternative amendments, such as the one proposed by homelessness charity Crisis, which would exclude properties left empty for more than six months from the scope of the law.'
Max requested meetings with each peer, and awaits their replies.
To find out more about squatting and the campaign to prevent its criminalisation, which UBU has joined, visit the Squatters for Secure Homes campaign (SQUASH) webpage.