The Law Commission report on conspiracy and criminal law reform, published last week, heralds the start of a crack-down on the squatting movement. Occupations, including those of workers and students, would become criminal offences on 'evidence of violence" provided by one person.
At the same time, however, the commission nas been orceo to retres on earlier proposals for mass arrests of occupiers in industrial situations on the boss's say so. The movement for the release of the Shrewsbury pickets has compelled them to recommend that in future prison sentences for conspiracy should not exceed the maximum for the offences allegedly plotted.
The Law Commission start off by saying that the offence of conspiracy snowla be umted to conspiracy to commit a criminal offence (which would rule our conspiracy to trespass. since the latter is a civil offence). But all their other proposals are devoted to filling the gaps in law which this concession would lake New sanctions are proposed on forcible entry which would have wide implications for the whole working class. At a press conference called by organisations opposed to the new proposals, representatives of the Campaign Against a Criminal Trespass Law (CACTL) and the National Council of Civil Liberties among others exo amned mat me new forcibic chus offence would render trade union and student occupations open to immediate police intervention and arrest for forcible entry if violence could be proved to have occurred. The word of a security guard or caretaker to this effect would be sufficient to justify arrests.
It was also pointed out that squatting has been presented as almost the sole justification for bringing in new legislation, despite the fact that the proposals also threaten occupations by workers, students and tenants. But there can be no doubt that those fighting homelessness will be in the front line.
are formidable. The 'problem' of squatthe sponsors of the press conference pointed out, this is not a feature of the squatting movement. The proposals use action to confer on bailiffs and the like opens up scope for serious and violent lords who by no stretch of the imaginaandoros and property companies can place a few sticks of furniture in properties in which they have no intention of living as the justification for 'Securicor LyDe evicHons.
After the press conference, Red Weekly spoke to two of the leading aCVISIS In CArl wike Keid anc Zander Iraser. Mike Reid told us: It's The proposed powers against squatters ters taking over property in which people are actually living is made central. But as the few well publicised examples of such the right of occupiers' to evict squatters.
This, claimed the press conference, abuse by gangs of heavies acting for land tion are 'displaced residential occupiers"
homelessness. clear that these proposals are designed to deal with the widespread opposition that is beginning to develop in response to the cuts and the Tory recession policies of the Labour Government. The report particularly aims itself against *The TUC gave evidence to the Law Commission but failed to take account of the threat that is posed to occupations in industry by the vagueness of the new forcible entry proposals. Any management stooge could claim violence had been threatened to bring the police into an occupation. A further fault or me ur evacnce is mar mey on address themselves to the work situation, and do not defend the position of those who take action against Zander Fraser agreed, adding: Although CACTL has correctly addresscu his campain asanst these changes in casanon. my oersonal view is ua essentially the question boils down to one of strength. It's obvious that the can't use these proposals against the miners or dockers and the best organised unions. They will be used against the weaker sections, just as the laws which they replace were used against the building workers who were weakly organised.
The lesson for squatters is that they have to fight in cooperation with tenants and local trade unionists. To get that support squatters will have to put forward a political stand on the housing question. It's only in this way that the can defend themselves.
CACTL will be considering proposals for taking the campaign forward in the near future. Meanwhile every militant must be capable of explaining what these new laws mean for the nant against Lne anti-working class policies of the Labour Government, defending the position of squatters and showing that if the need arose these proposals could be used against direct action on the campuse. and HE IndustrY
Red Weekly 1 April 1976 _Students 5_