View source for Police Raids on Occupations

=Police Raids on Occupy Squats=

As UK occupations squat more buildings the police, [https://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2012/01/490905.html many of whom have criminal records], are flouting the law to harass protesters, the Lords are debating [http://www.monbiot.com/2012/01/09/making-democracy-safe-for-business/ making squatting residential buildings illegal] and the government plans to make [https://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2012/01/490977.html hundreds of thousands homeless]. 

On 8th January 2012 40-50 [https://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2012/01/490914.html police officers raided the Railton Hotel], next to the train station in Lancaster, which had been squatted by [http://occupylancaster.org.uk/ Occupy Lancaster] the day before. At approximately 8.15 pm, [https://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2012/01/490971.html the police used a battering ram to break through the front door]. Once they had gained entry, the police arrested the four occupants who were inside at the time. The Occupiers secured the building legally, and displayed notices of Section 6 of the Criminal Law Act 1977 on the exterior of the building, but the police paid no heed to the law and [https://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2012/01/490970.html Occupy Lancaster are now seeking legal advice].

Also on 8th January [https://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2012/01/490966.html undercover police arrested 3 occupiers] at [http://www.occupyliverpool.org/ Occupy Liverpool] on suspicion of possession; none were found to be in possession of "controlled substances". Twenty or so police then surrounded the occupied building stating that it was a crime scene and laid siege to it for 3 hours. Like Occupy Lancaster [https://www.indymedia.org.uk/images/2012/01/490968.jpg a Section 6 notice was displayed] but the police acted as as if squatting was already illegal.

Later this month [https://occupysheffield.org/ Occupy Sheffield] will be hosting a [https://occupywiki.org.uk/wiki/Sheffield/January_2012_Conference national occupy conference] in the [https://sheffield.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/sheffield/2011/12/490561.html squatted Citadel of Hope].

'''Newswire: [https://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2012/01/490971.html Eviction - Press Release: 9/1/12 from Occupy Lancaster!] | [https://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2012/01/490970.html Legal help required] | [https://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2012/01/490966.html Police Harass Occupy Liverpool at Legal Squat] |  [https://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2012/01/490914.html Police raid on Occupy Lancaster] | [https://sheffield.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/sheffield/2011/12/490577.html Occupy Sheffield Statement on the occupation of the Citadel Of Hope] | [https://sheffield.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/sheffield/2011/12/490561.html Salvation Army Citadel Occupied and renamed Citadel Of Hope]'''