New squatting offence
puts further strain on legal aid resources, says Law
Society
The Law Society has described
Government plans to proceed with creating a new criminal offence of
squatting as disproportionate and likely to increase demand on the
already stretched legal aid budget.
The proposed changes by
Government will mean that anyone found squatting in a residential
property will face a year in jail and/or a 5,000 fine. The
amendment is expected to be debated next week in an amendment to
the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders
Bill.
Responding to the news, Law
Society Chief Executive Desmond Hudson said:
“The Government should be
slow to create new laws and criminal offences where there is no
need. The current law is sufficient to protect homeowners, but is
not understood by the public, the police, nor, it seems,
politicians.
“By responding in this ad
hoc fashion to public concern, which has understandably been
heightened by recent well-publicised but in reality quite isolated
cases, attention is being diverted from the more important aspects
of the Bill: the reductions in access to justice because of cuts to
legal aid and the mangling of no win, no fee.
“Perversely, these
proposals will create a new unfunded demand on the legal aid budget
at a time when it is being subjected to severe cuts. There has been
no proper assessment of this.
“Increased guidance and
training on the legal mechanisms that are already in place should
be provided to the public and the police. This will help to counter
misconceived concern.
“Once again, we urge the
government to draw upon real evidence before reacting to
media-driven so called public concerns.”
Ends
Notes to Editors:
The Law Society is the
representative body for more than 145,000 solicitors in England and
Wales. The Society negotiates on behalf of the profession, and
lobbies regulators, government and others.
Contact: Catherine Reed, The Law
Society
+44 (0)20 7320 5902