Advisory Service for Squatters

Advisory Service for Squatters

The Advisory Service for Squatters (ASS) is a non-profit group based in London, UK, run by volunteers which aims to provide practical advice and legal support for squatters. It was founded in 1975, having grown out of the Family Squatters Advisory Service. After being based for many years at 2 St.Paul's Road in Islington, ASS moved its offices to Angel Alley (84b Whitechapel High Street, London E1 7QX), the same building as Freedom Press (U.K.).

A spokesperson for the group said in 2003 "Today's squatters are highly organised and efficient. Many have full-time work, and drug problems are rare." [Fallon A "Squatters are back, and upwardly mobile" in 'The Independent on Sunday' October 12, 2003]

ASS publishes the "Squatters' Handbook" which both serves as a guide for how and where to squat and explains the legal issues involved. 150,000 copies have been sold since 1976 and the twelfth edition was published in 2004. [Anonymous, (12th edition, 2004)"Squatter's Handbook", Advisory Service for Squatters ISBN 0950776955]

In June 2008 the ASS was subject to controversy when the Daily Mail reported on The Squatters Handbook. Eric Pickles, Conservative MP for Brentwood and Ongar, criticised councils for publishing The Handbook and the AAS contact details on council websites. He said “Homeowners will be horrified that town halls are giving squatters the green light to break into law-abiding citizens’ homes … Promoting such lawlessness is breathtaking, but is sadly an indictment of social breakdown that has become rife under Labour and the prevalence of 'human rights' laws. This revelation coupled with fact violent crime is doubling blows apart Labour's claim to be the party of law and order.” [http://www.squatter.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=149&Itemid=2 Advisory Service for Squatters - SQUATTING IS STILL LEGAL ] ]

In response the ASS issued a press release explaining that "Councils sign post ASS on their websites because we offer free advice to homeless people and those with housing problems."

In the press release the ASS also stated that "Squatters only occupy empty properties. In those cases where a mistake is made and there is an occupier, the squatters can be quickly removed by legal mechanisms." and that "squatting mostly happens in housing that’s been left to rot, whether by councils or private owners." The ASS also stated that it "does not promote lawlessness, as squatting is still legal. We help disadvantaged people to find housing, to help themselves when no-one else will. We often recommend that people who are eligible for Priority Need Housing apply to their local Council."

The ASS further stated that "Human Rights laws are generally unavailable to squatters as a defence." And that "the real issue is the difficulty of getting housed, due to profiteering through privatisation and gentrification, which leads to unaffordable rents and the need to take personal action."

References

;Notes

See also

* Squatting
* Social centre

External links

* [http://www.squatter.org.uk/ ASS website]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Michigan State University Vietnam Advisory Group — The Michigan State University Vietnam Advisory Group (commonly known as the Michigan State University Group and abbreviated MSUG) was a program of technical assistance provided to the government of South Vietnam as an effort in state building by… …   Wikipedia

  • environment — environmental, adj. environmentally, adv. /en vuy reuhn meuhnt, vuy euhrn /, n. 1. the aggregate of surrounding things, conditions, or influences; surroundings; milieu. 2. Ecol. the air, water, minerals, organisms, and all other external factors… …   Universalium

  • United States — a republic in the N Western Hemisphere comprising 48 conterminous states, the District of Columbia, and Alaska in North America, and Hawaii in the N Pacific. 267,954,767; conterminous United States, 3,022,387 sq. mi. (7,827,982 sq. km); with… …   Universalium

  • Italy — /it l ee/, n. a republic in S Europe, comprising a peninsula S of the Alps, and Sicily, Sardinia, Elba, and other smaller islands: a kingdom 1870 1946. 57,534,088; 116,294 sq. mi. (301,200 sq. km). Cap.: Rome. Italian, Italia. * * * Italy… …   Universalium

  • ancient Rome — ▪ ancient state, Europe, Africa, and Asia Introduction       the state centred on the city of Rome. This article discusses the period from the founding of the city and the regal period, which began in 753 BC, through the events leading to the… …   Universalium

  • china — /chuy neuh/, n. 1. a translucent ceramic material, biscuit fired at a high temperature, its glaze fired at a low temperature. 2. any porcelain ware. 3. plates, cups, saucers, etc., collectively. 4. figurines made of porcelain or ceramic material …   Universalium

  • China — /chuy neuh/, n. 1. People s Republic of, a country in E Asia. 1,221,591,778; 3,691,502 sq. mi. (9,560,990 sq. km). Cap.: Beijing. 2. Republic of. Also called Nationalist China. a republic consisting mainly of the island of Taiwan off the SE coast …   Universalium

  • South Africa — Republic of, a country in S Africa; member of the Commonwealth of Nations until 1961. 42,327,458; 472,000 sq. mi. (1,222,480 sq. km). Capitals: Pretoria and Cape Town. Formerly, Union of South Africa. * * * South Africa Introduction South Africa… …   Universalium

  • Abhisit Vejjajiva — อภิสิทธิ์ เวชชาชีวะ MPCh MWM MP Leader of the Opposition Incumbent …   Wikipedia

  • performing arts — arts or skills that require public performance, as acting, singing, or dancing. [1945 50] * * * ▪ 2009 Introduction Music Classical.       The last vestiges of the Cold War seemed to thaw for a moment on Feb. 26, 2008, when the unfamiliar strains …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”