Squatters at former Hove school taunt campaigning MP (From The Argus)
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Squatters at former Hove school taunt campaigning MP
10:23am Friday 30th November 2012 in News By Bill Gardner
Squatters have moved into a former school in The Drive
Squatters have taunted an MP who is campaigning to outlaw people occupying shops and businesses.
Last Friday a group got into an old school building in The Drive, Hove, forcing the owners to mount a legal challenge to remove them.
One message left in the window claimed the squat was legitimate under section 144 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act, which came into force on the first day of September.
Another poster on the door was signed ‘Mike Wearthly’ in scrawled handwriting.
In recent months Hove MP Mike Weatherley has campaigned to criminalise squatting in commercial properties as well as residential homes.
Graffiti-covered walls Two weeks ago he was pelted with rocks, tomatoes and eggs by angry protesters as he prepared to give an anti-squatting speech at the University of Sussex.
Police powerless
Sussex Police said they were powerless to remove the group from the old Drive Prep school building as they were not breaking the law.
But yesterday (November 29) the squatters unexpectedly walked out of the building as the owners stood outside discussing their next course of action.
Inside the house the group left graffiti-covered walls, smashed windows, cigarette boxes and empty cans of alcohol.
The owner told The Argus: “We had just redecorated for new tenants who have now cancelled on us.
“It’s so frustrating. These people just took advantage of the law and they left our property looking like a rubbish tip.”
Mr Weatherley said: “Instances like this highlight exactly why it is important that the law is extended to cover all properties. Once again, squatters have caused misery and distress and left an appalling mess after themselves.
“The owners will now have to pay a substantial sum of money to secure their own building from future break-ins and clear up the disgusting mess.
“This kind of behaviour is completely unacceptable and, like with residential properties, should be outlawed.”
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Comments(29)
kkj
says...
10:42am Fri 30 Nov 12
Empty cans of alcohol? They're either empty cans, or cans of alcohol. They can't be both.
HJarrs
says...
10:46am Fri 30 Nov 12
charlie smirke
says...
10:51am Fri 30 Nov 12
HJarrs wrote:Yes, I don't get this. Surely what they have done is Criminal Damage, so why are they allowed to walk away scot free??
It is one thing to squat and another to cause damage. These people caused criminal damage and should be arrested and charged. What are the police doing about this?
Crystal Ball
says...
10:53am Fri 30 Nov 12
paul76
says...
11:08am Fri 30 Nov 12
westpiergone
says...
11:38am Fri 30 Nov 12
theleftygiraffe
says...
11:45am Fri 30 Nov 12
No, he claimed he was. There hasn't actually been any confirmation of this.
This group of people sound like morons and don't represent the squatting community, both in Brighton and across the country. There's a distinct difference between people using a building as a squat and a drug den/drinking cellar.
Fairfax Sakes
says...
12:06pm Fri 30 Nov 12
hursthill
says...
12:12pm Fri 30 Nov 12
AmboGuy
says...
12:15pm Fri 30 Nov 12
theleftygiraffe wrote:Well I have yet to see any proof of any squatters treating a building with respect. We keep hearing about how they 'improve' the property they're in yet when I asked nobody could provide any evidence or articles to support this.
"Two weeks ago he was pelted with rocks, tomatoes and eggs by angry protesters as he prepared to give an anti-squatting speech at the University of Sussex."
No, he claimed he was. There hasn't actually been any confirmation of this.
This group of people sound like morons and don't represent the squatting community, both in Brighton and across the country. There's a distinct difference between people using a building as a squat and a drug den/drinking cellar.
Please don't try to distance yourself from these people - you are all the same.
juleshove
says...
12:19pm Fri 30 Nov 12
HJarrs
says...
12:50pm Fri 30 Nov 12
BornInBrighton1968 wrote:These people were criminals. If I was to squat in a building I, like many others would treat it with respect. I wasn't aware the Green Party were now allowed to arrest people, I thought that was the responsibility of the police.
People voted for '5 Homes' Brussels Lucas and her Marxist Green loons, then act surprised when squatters are allowed to destroy property with impunity...
Joshiman
says...
1:01pm Fri 30 Nov 12
elephantsandowls
says...
1:03pm Fri 30 Nov 12
please do tell, leftgiraffe, on what planet you live?
squatters like these are EXACTLY the reason why the law needs to be changed.
qm
says...
1:11pm Fri 30 Nov 12
kkj wrote:You well know what is meant - stop being so bloody obtuse - pathetic!!
"Inside the house the group left graffiti-covered walls, smashed windows, cigarette boxes and empty cans of alcohol."
Empty cans of alcohol? They're either empty cans, or cans of alcohol. They can't be both.
BornInBrighton1968
says...
1:27pm Fri 30 Nov 12
HJarrs wrote:"I, like many others would treat it with respect"
BornInBrighton1968 wrote:These people were criminals. If I was to squat in a building I, like many others would treat it with respect. I wasn't aware the Green Party were now allowed to arrest people, I thought that was the responsibility of the police.
People voted for '5 Homes' Brussels Lucas and her Marxist Green loons, then act surprised when squatters are allowed to destroy property with impunity...
Yeah, yeah. Of course you would....
AmboGuy
says...
1:41pm Fri 30 Nov 12
BornInBrighton1968 wrote:Yep sure he'd treat it wirh respect and I bet he'd develop it too, add a loft conversion, install brand new parquet flooring and fit a brand new Magnet kitchen - all out of he goodness of his heart.
HJarrs wrote:"I, like many others would treat it with respect"
BornInBrighton1968 wrote:These people were criminals. If I was to squat in a building I, like many others would treat it with respect. I wasn't aware the Green Party were now allowed to arrest people, I thought that was the responsibility of the police.
People voted for '5 Homes' Brussels Lucas and her Marxist Green loons, then act surprised when squatters are allowed to destroy property with impunity...
Yeah, yeah. Of course you would....
Come on HJarrs we weren't born yesterday.
stir up
says...
2:12pm Fri 30 Nov 12
Still you never know one of them might even end us as part of the establishment and try to forget this ever happened. Some might even come for reasonably good homes but and think this is a bit of fun, it certainly is not for the people who own the house.
theleftygiraffe
says...
3:07pm Fri 30 Nov 12
AmboGuy wrote:You haven't seen any proof, I expect, because all you do is sit inside and post angry comments on The Argus website. Some of my friends are squatters, I've visited their squats, and they certainly don't destroy the place like these people do. I'm not trying to distance myself from squatters, I'm trying to distance myself from criminals who give squatters a bad name.
theleftygiraffe wrote:Well I have yet to see any proof of any squatters treating a building with respect. We keep hearing about how they 'improve' the property they're in yet when I asked nobody could provide any evidence or articles to support this.
"Two weeks ago he was pelted with rocks, tomatoes and eggs by angry protesters as he prepared to give an anti-squatting speech at the University of Sussex."
No, he claimed he was. There hasn't actually been any confirmation of this.
This group of people sound like morons and don't represent the squatting community, both in Brighton and across the country. There's a distinct difference between people using a building as a squat and a drug den/drinking cellar.
Please don't try to distance yourself from these people - you are all the same.
theleftygiraffe
says...
3:10pm Fri 30 Nov 12
elephantsandowls wrote:I live in Brighton, a place with a vibrant squatting community and in general a very left-wing city. Where do you live? Somewhere where you think it's acceptable to throw the homeless out on the street and arrest them for living in an abandoned or disused building? Says a lot, really.
^This group of people (...) don't represent the squatting community^
please do tell, leftgiraffe, on what planet you live?
squatters like these are EXACTLY the reason why the law needs to be changed.
As I said, these people weren't squatters, they're criminals. Don't lump them all together or you'll find yourself being lumped together with all the other idiots who don't think for themselves and believe what they're told by the government and Mike Weatherly.
RottingdeanRant
says...
5:37pm Fri 30 Nov 12
talks about are but I have never seen a squatted property kept in good order let alone improved. Similarly, most of the squatters I have seen evicted in the past seem to be better described as feckless than homeless.
Somethingsarejustwrong
says...
9:11pm Fri 30 Nov 12
HJarrs wrote:If the Greens didn't waste police time on other ridiculous situations then these miscreants could and would be removed. However its the idiot minority supporting the idiot minority that seem to like this radical situation and encourage it to continue.
BornInBrighton1968 wrote:These people were criminals. If I was to squat in a building I, like many others would treat it with respect. I wasn't aware the Green Party were now allowed to arrest people, I thought that was the responsibility of the police.
People voted for '5 Homes' Brussels Lucas and her Marxist Green loons, then act surprised when squatters are allowed to destroy property with impunity...
HJarrs, are you the green party village idiot, or has your naivety been inbred?
AmboGuy
says...
9:27pm Fri 30 Nov 12
theleftygiraffe wrote:A vibrant squatting community? Ok tell you what, seeing as you seem to be spending most of your time sitting in front of a computer posting comments then maybe you could post a link to a report of squatters who've actually improved a property.
elephantsandowls wrote:I live in Brighton, a place with a vibrant squatting community and in general a very left-wing city. Where do you live? Somewhere where you think it's acceptable to throw the homeless out on the street and arrest them for living in an abandoned or disused building? Says a lot, really.
^This group of people (...) don't represent the squatting community^
please do tell, leftgiraffe, on what planet you live?
squatters like these are EXACTLY the reason why the law needs to be changed.
As I said, these people weren't squatters, they're criminals. Don't lump them all together or you'll find yourself being lumped together with all the other idiots who don't think for themselves and believe what they're told by the government and Mike Weatherly.
There have been numerous squatters in Brighton who, as part of the vibrant squatting community you mention, have trashed places and made their neighbours lives hell.
So anyway, we all look forward to the link you're going to post.
Somethingsarejustwrong
says...
9:44pm Fri 30 Nov 12
AmboGuy wrote:You have hit the nail on the head AmboGuy.
theleftygiraffe wrote:A vibrant squatting community? Ok tell you what, seeing as you seem to be spending most of your time sitting in front of a computer posting comments then maybe you could post a link to a report of squatters who've actually improved a property.
elephantsandowls wrote:I live in Brighton, a place with a vibrant squatting community and in general a very left-wing city. Where do you live? Somewhere where you think it's acceptable to throw the homeless out on the street and arrest them for living in an abandoned or disused building? Says a lot, really.
^This group of people (...) don't represent the squatting community^
please do tell, leftgiraffe, on what planet you live?
squatters like these are EXACTLY the reason why the law needs to be changed.
As I said, these people weren't squatters, they're criminals. Don't lump them all together or you'll find yourself being lumped together with all the other idiots who don't think for themselves and believe what they're told by the government and Mike Weatherly.
There have been numerous squatters in Brighton who, as part of the vibrant squatting community you mention, have trashed places and made their neighbours lives hell.
So anyway, we all look forward to the link you're going to post.
These people (sic) are just out and out miscreants who frankly need locking away. They have no respect, or remorse and we would do well to find reasons to get them off the streets asap.
Dealing with idiots
says...
11:39pm Fri 30 Nov 12
http://present.brigh
ton-hove.gov.uk/mgEP
etitionDisplay.aspx?
ID=360&RPID=6033530&
HPID=6033530
gnarlychaos
says...
5:39pm Sat 1 Dec 12
Algeria Touchshriek wrote:Can i use a cycle lane to get to this abode, would love to witness Mr Kit Katt
Set fire to Jason Kitekat and throw him in their. That'll do the trick.
getting torched.
I saw him last night on BBC South East news, I wouldnt describe him as enlightning but lets hope he.s combustible.
What a joyful thought.
AmboGuy
says...
12:19am Sun 2 Dec 12
theleftygiraffe wrote:We're all still waiting for you to get back to us.
elephantsandowls wrote:I live in Brighton, a place with a vibrant squatting community and in general a very left-wing city. Where do you live? Somewhere where you think it's acceptable to throw the homeless out on the street and arrest them for living in an abandoned or disused building? Says a lot, really.
^This group of people (...) don't represent the squatting community^
please do tell, leftgiraffe, on what planet you live?
squatters like these are EXACTLY the reason why the law needs to be changed.
As I said, these people weren't squatters, they're criminals. Don't lump them all together or you'll find yourself being lumped together with all the other idiots who don't think for themselves and believe what they're told by the government and Mike Weatherly.
So I'll assume that you have absolutely NOTHING to back up your blatant lie that squatters improve the properties they're in. Now there's a huge surprise.
rrch88
says...
3:38pm Sat 22 Dec 12
Stop getting spoon fed and find out for yourself, media sources have an agenda and you're a fool if you think otherwise. No offence intended.
Algeria Touchshriek says...
10:36am Fri 30 Nov 12