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Options for Dealing with Squatting
March 9, 2016 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm GMT
“People are being made unnecessarily homeless and very vulnerable people are suffering as a consequence. This legislation was based upon prejudice and has only made matters worse.”
– John McDonnell MP, March 2013
In July 2011, the government launched its consultation ‘Options for dealing with squatting’. Although 96% of respondents were opposed to criminalisation, the Ministry of Justice answered the consultation responses with section 144 – a provision that would criminalise trespass in residential buildings. Section 144 was passed into law in September 2012: squatting in residential buildings can now be punished by up to six months in prison or a £5,000 fine.
The Collective Reading Party will start with a brief introduction to the consultation/criminalisation process followed by a collective reading. ‘Options for dealing with squatting’ is an attempt to activate the consultation responses and is anonymously and collectively authored by Persons Unknown. All persons attending the event will be issued a Persons Unknown name badge and remain anonymous.