#Homeless & #Unemployed #occupy Hackney Central #police station - - TopicsExpress

#Homeless & #Unemployed #occupy Hackney Central #police station - #Campaigners have moved into the former #PoliceStation – in an act they say is not a political statement, but which perhaps betrays a healthy sense of irony. They are understood to have moved in around two weeks ago, and a “small group” of them are now living there. Most of the building’s windows and doors are boarded up, but windows on some of the upper floors were open and lights could be seen inside. A notice stuck to the front of the building stated that the building was under occupation, and that laws against the squatting of residential buildings did not apply. In a statement, the occupiers said that a small group had moved into the police station as they were currently homeless. As long-term Hackney residents, [we] have been forced to occupy this disused building because [we] have little if no access to affordable housing in Hackney.” The occupiers said that they were seeking to come to an agreement with the building’s owners to use it as a living space until it was needed for further development. Squatting of residential buildings was criminalised in 2012, but squatting of non-residential properties remains a civil matter. In the statement from the occupiers, one squatter expressed concern about the trend towards squatting being treated as a criminal offence. “If anybody were to speak to us they would quickly see that we are not criminals. We just need somewhere to live. We wish to be good neighbours and to look after the property while we are here,” they said.