“The provisions of s. 144 Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 ‘create’ the offence, punishable by a fine on summary conviction or a maximum of 51 weeks in prison, of squatting in a residential building. This has resulted in a Government Circular (2012/04) explaining the offence and its ambit, issued on 22nd August 2012 and implemented on 1st September 2012. This article does not propose to comment on the perceived political or social imperative for creating yet another summary criminal offence, but rather the purpose, effect and guidance given by the government in investigating and prosecuting the offence.”
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Zenith Chambers, 10th September 2012
Source: www.zenithchambers.co.uk
