Monthly Archives: August 2012

Wow. We just discovered these awesome free stencils from the Anarchist Media Project. Let’s get them to every squat in the UK. Please share/repost/retweet or get some printed, get on your bike and cycle them out around town!

We wouldn’t ever encourage criminality but hey! Seeing as you’re likely to become criminalised on Saturday why not get out there and graffiti them round your local area!! (We’re joking, of course…)

Below are our favourite stencils, the rest can be found here:

http://anarchistmedia.wordpress.com/2012/08/28/better-to-squat-than-let-homes-rot-free-street-art-stencils/

Big up to the Anarchist Media Project!!

We have recently been informed that as of the 1st September 2012 squatting in residential properties will become a criminal offence. Here’s a statement from an ASS member:

‘The new law will be coming into force on the 1st September (sorry for any confusion) and we need to be prepared. You will not be committing an offence if you are squatting in non-residential property, if you have a licence or tenancy, if you are not living in the property or intending to live there (just visiting).
Make sure you are prepared to explain why the new law does not cover your circumstances.’

We want to emphasise that we need to organise and be prepared for this law change. Our advice to those squatting in residential properties is as follows:

1.  If you are ‘just visiting’ people who are squatting in residential properties then this law does not apply to you. The police will need to prove that you were living or intending to live in the property in order for you to be arrested. It should be o.k for you to gather your friends possessions in case of eviction, just explain to the police that you are doing so. 

2. Have a back up plan and be ready. Make sure your possessions are packed and ready to be moved. Start looking now for a place to move to. Join up with other crews and support each other. This will be vital for the survival of the squatting community.

Please do get in contact if you need any further support/advice. Call us on 07591 415860. We are usually contactable 24/7 although if your call is not urgent then  call during the daytime. If no credit text/miss call us and we’ll get back to you asap. 

Solidarity to all. 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/propertynews/9425340/Grandmother-foils-bailiffs-after-sit-in-at-sons-3m-stately-home.html#

It goes to show the elderly really can be a force to be reckoned with. This story reminds us of an awesome poem by London spoken word performer, Furious George. Anarchist O.A.P’s smashing the state – good stuff! Check it out….

http://mightyjahj.wordpress.com/2010/07/13/o-a-p-s-confessions/

In the Royal London intensive care unit there is a squatter who is in critical condition. In the early hours of Saturday morning he jumped from the roof of his squat to escape a raging fire, falling 8 metres. The fire ripped through the disused salvation army building and tragically took the life of one of the inhabitants. In total there were 3 admitted to hospital, a man and woman were discharged on Saturday after receiving treatment for smoke inhalation.

We have been doing all we can to verify the identity of the squatter in intensive care so the nurses can contact his family and friends. Sadly, we have still not been able to do so. We visited intensive care yesterday and can give the following information:

*Possibly called ‘Luca’?
*Tall, slim build, medium length brown dreadlocks, tanned skin. Tattoos on both left and right arms. The one on his left fore arm is the outline of a star. On his right upper arm some sort of machine style tat, quite small. He’s also got large tribal tattoos on both of his upper thighs.
*Our guess would be that he’s Italian/Brazilian/Spanish? 

Please ask around to see if anyone knows who this person is and get in touch asap if you can help. 

To read more, see the link below. 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-19140350

**UPDATE: 07/08 The squatter has now been identified and his family informed. Many thanks to those who showed support   **



Benefit cuts demonstrators on hunger strike

Yet another story of people being made homeless due to the coalitions housing benefit caps.

http://www.camdennewjournal.com/news/2012/jul/exclusive-benefits-cut-demonstrators-set-hunger-strike-protest-outside-town-hall

Housing benefit caps were introduced nationally in January 2012. They set a limit for the amount of money people can recieve from the government to help them pay their rent, restricting the maximum payment to between £250 and £400 a week depending on the number of bedrooms. Research carried out by the Chartered Institute of Housing for the Guardian newspaper has analysed the impact of caps to the local housing allowance on homes across the UK.It found 720,000 homes will become unaffordable to those on low incomes in England, 60,000 in Scotland, and 30,000 in Wales. London and the south east will be hit hardest, where a quarter of a million homes will become unaffordable.

Those who are struggling to pay their rent will inevitably find themselves and their families served with eviction notices. More and more landlords are refusing to let properties to those recieving benefit while average rents in the private housing sector continue to rise. These factors make finding a new home extremely difficult and thus homelessness is increasingly becoming a reality for many cash strapped families.

The Eviction Resistance Network strongly condemn evictions of those who are struggling to pay rent in times of austerity. We urge communities to network, be open about financial struggles and injustices and, most importantly, get out on the streets and support eachother. See our useful contacts page to find more information about local support groups.