HC Deb 02 December 1980 vol 995 cc50-1W
Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received, since January 1980, asking him to introduce legislation to make the occupation of private property whilst the owners are away and the refusal to leave illegal.

Mr. Brittan

We have received one letter from a member of the public suggesting that squatting should be illegal, It is already a criminal offence under section 7 of the Criminal Law Act 1977 for a person who has entered premises as a trespasser to fail to leave when asked to do so by a displaced residential occupier or by a person with a right to occupy the premises who had not taken up residence at the time of the trespass.