A change in the law, which comes into force on 1 September 2012, will render squatting a criminal offence.
Although this legal move by the Government is welcomed by the British Security Industry Association (BSIA), the Trade Association is fearful that the law isn’t extensive enough when it comes to protecting commercial and other non-residential premises.
David Frampton, current chairman of the BSIA’s Physical Security Equipment (PSES) Section, said: “Under the revised Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act, squatting has been criminalised for residential buildings, giving the police greater power to protect property owners. While this is a positive move, the Act does not make any provision for squatting in commercial or non-residential buildings, leaving such properties exposed to ongoing risk.”
According to Frampton, once buildings become occupied it can be very difficult for owners to reclaim them. They’re often forced to follow lengthy legal proceedings to get rid of their unwanted tenants.
“Owners of commercial and non-residential properties should take this opportunity to revisit their security policy,” urged Hampton, “and ensure they are doing all they can to protect their property from intruders and the damage they can cause.”
Security solutions for property owners
Members of the BSIA’s Physical Security Equipment Section are often called upon to provide security solutions for property owners. They will always emphasise the importance of an holistic approach to security for unoccupied premises. Here, the integration of physical and electronic security enables owners to cover every angle in protecting against unauthorised access.
One BSIA member, Clearway Ltd, recently helped a customer to react when a construction site primed for property development was suddenly occupied by a large, well-organised group of squatters.
The uninvited guests had even adopted security measures of their own, having restricted access by attaching a new padlock to the gate and letting loose several large dogs. Ongoing delays and legal fees that resulted incurred a significant overhead to the development project.
Clearway immediately put in place an action plan to ensure the smooth repossession of the site, which involved covert surveillance prior to the agreement of the security methods required to achieve a successful eviction.
Physical security measures were, of course, at the heart of the plans. Barrier methods were implemented to prevent further vehicle access, while steel security screens and doors restricted access to the property. Regular site inspections were performed to ensure that the site remained unoccupied.
Ultimately, the eviction was a success, with the site remaining vacant for several months and the security measures implemented preventing any further incursions.
Regular patrols and monitoring
“Once you’ve put in place measures such as steel security screens, doors and fencing to keep intruders out, it’s important to make sure that the site is regularly patrolled or monitored using either security officers or CCTV,” continued Frampton.
“Alarms are also an effective measure to detect and deter intruders, and keeping a site well-lit wherever and whenever possible can also help to put off potential squatters.”
At present, there’s no word on whether the Government will look to introduce further legislation to make squatting of all kinds an offence. The coalition has suggested that not legislating on this will allow students to occupy academic buildings for protest, and to allow squatters to occupy genuinely abandoned buildings.
However, in its consultation response, it argues: “The Government remains concerned about squatters who occupy commercial buildings that are in use and will continue to explore whether the enforcement of existing criminal offences (such as criminal damage and burglary) and civil procedures that enable owners to regain possession of their properties an be improved. The Government will also continue to keep the law under review in order to measure the effects of the changes and determine if any further action is needed.”
To locate a physical security supplier in your area, or to find out more about the solutions mentioned in this article, visit the BSIA website
