§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to enable the owners of property to call upon the police to have squatters evicted.
§ Mr. MayhewMy right hon. Friend has no present plans to do so. It is already a criminal offence for a person who has entered premises as a trespasser to fail to leave when required to do so by a displaced residential occupier or protected intending occupier, and the police have power to arrest such a person. Otherwise trespass is largely a matter for the civil law, but the police may assist owners to eject trespassers. My right hon. Friend is currently undertaking a review of the law relating to trespass on residential premises, in connection with which he issued a consultant paper on 2 February.