Mike Weatherley has today congratulated the Government for officially backing his campaign for squatting to be criminalised.

In a report released today by the Ministry of Justice, Options for dealing with squatting, it has been confirmed that the Government is to introduce a new offence of squatting in residential buildings.

Mike has been campaigning for squatting to be criminalised since his election to Parliament in 2010 and has been supported by his colleague the Rt Hon Kenneth Clarke QC MP, Secretary of State for Justice. Squatting is a large problem in Brighton & Hove, with numerous instances of this organised and frequently menacing behaviour blighting the lives of ordinary people.

Commenting, Mike said: “I have said right from the beginning that squatting in people’s homes is wrong and should be criminalised. Finally my campaign has become reality with today’s announcement that squatting is to be made a criminal offence. To all the squatters out there: get out and stay out.”

Commenting on Mike’s campaign the Secretary of State for Justice, the Rt Hon Kenneth Clarke QC MP, said: “I am grateful to colleagues like Mike Weatherley who has tirelessly brought cases of squatting from his Hove constituency to my attention.”

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