Squatters could be good for us all, says judge in empty homes ruling

Tue Sep 6 23:05:54 BST 2011

Squatters could be good for us all, says judge in empty homes ruling
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/8742631/Squatters-could-be-good-for-us-all-says-judge-in-empty-homes-ruling.html
Squatters are not criminals and could be good for 
society, a judge has ruled in ordering a London 
council to make public a list of empty homes in its area.
Camden Council must now comply with a Freedom of 
Information Act request for a list of empty 
council-managed and private homes in the borough Photo: REX
Daily Telegraph - Tuesday 06 Sep 2011

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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/8742631/Squatters-could-be-good-for-us-all-says-judge-in-empty-homes-ruling.html#disqus_thread
With police backing, Camden Council argued that 
disclosing the list risked unleashing a wave of 
criminal damage, arson, drug-related crime and 
organised stripping of vacant properties.
But Judge Fiona Henderson emphasised that 
squatters were not law-breakers and said official 
concerns were outweighed by the public interest 
in putting empty properties back into use.
The tribunal ruling means Camden Council must now 
comply with a Freedom of Information Act request 
by Yiannis Voyias of the Advisory Service for 
Squatters for a list of empty council-managed and 
private homes in the borough.
Camdens lawyers argued that disclosure of the 
list would compromise the prevention or 
detection of crime, while police said there was 
a link between squatting and a range of crimes, 
including vandalism, drug use and threatening 
behaviour. The council said almost all squatting 
involves criminal damage in breaking in and 
argued that squatters should not be allowed to 
jump the queue for scarce public housing.
The council also said that the number of squatted 
properties in Lambeth nearly doubled after a list 
of long-term empty homes in that borough was made public.
Judge Henderson accepted that disclosure of the 
list was likely to have a negative impact on the 
prevention of crime and would probably increase 
the number of properties squatted and be of use to organised criminals.
However, emphasising that squatting is not a 
crime, she said there was a lack of evidence 
that squatters were the source of more 
anti-social behaviour than rent-paying tenants.
She added: The tribunal does not consider that 
any perceived social disadvantage of living next 
door to squatters, or the costs of eviction of 
squatters, are matters that the tribunal is 
entitled to take into consideration since squatting is not illegal.
While the list would be of use to professional 
squatters  who aim to be as inconspicuous as 
possible  its disclosure was unlikely to 
increase the drink or drug-fuelled opportunistic 
crime associated with empty properties, she said.
Mr Voyias argued that making the list public 
would rejuvenate the empty homes debate and 
promote transparency, accountability and public 
understanding. It would put pressure on the 
Government to tackle the waste of resources represented by empty property.
Mr Voyias also said that academic researchers, 
homelessness charities and even English Heritage 
would benefit from disclosure of the number and location of unoccupied homes.
Ordering Camden to disclose the list, Judge 
Henderson said: The tribunal accepts that 
bringing empty properties back into reuse is a 
priority for the Government and the council.
However, she said the argument that squatters 
will be able to jump the queue for housing had 
no bearing on the prevention of crime.
The publication of the list would also bring 
buildings back into use sooner and the housing 
needs of additional people would be met.

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