Squatting in non-residential property.

The request was successful.

Dear Richmond upon Thames Borough Council,

This request mainly concerns squatting in council owned non-residential property and live-in guardianship.

1a) The number of times you have found people squatting in non-residential buildings you own or control each year since 2010?
1b) I would like the date for each of these events and the full postcode (so it does not identify the exact building but gives the small area so I can see if a particular area is being targeted).
1c) The number of times you found people squatting in council owned residential property from 2010 until the law change in September 2012.

2) The action taken against squatting in council owned or controlled, non-residential buildings:
I would like to know for each event of squatting in council’s non=residential property:
2a) whether the police were called?
2b) And if they were, how many arrests were made? And, if recorded, what for?
2c) Was there a following criminal court case, and if so what for? Against how many people? And what was the outcome? (As if there was, you would most likely have to attend as a witness to the trespassing or submit evidence and so could potentially record this information).
2d) Was civil court action taken to remove the trespassers? If so:
- How much was spent in total on lawyers/legal fees/court costs?
- Was an IPO used?
- Were high court bailiffs booked? Or county court bailiffs?
- How much was spent on the hire of bailiffs?
2e) An estimate of how long squatters had been there before eviction?

3) Use of live-in guardians to secure non-residential buildings against squatters (also known as protection by occupation):
3a) How many non-residential buildings have you protected with live-in guardians each year since 2010?
3b) For each time you have used guardians to secure non-residential buildings you own or control since 2010 can I be told:
3bA) The date the contract started and the date it ended (or if it is still going)
3bB) The name of the guardian company you used?
3bC) If you put a limit on how many people can live in the building, and if so what is it?
3bD) Had this building previously been squatted? If so, how many times?
3bE) The total, or monthly cost/income, of hiring the guardian company to put live-in guardians in this building? (This I because I know some guardian business models charge the owner and others pay the owner of the building).
3bF) The type of non-residential property? (eg. Shop/nursery/school etc.)

Yours faithfully,

Flo Night

FOI, Richmond upon Thames Borough Council

Our Ref: L/ST/e19320

 

Dear Flo Night

 

Thank you for your request for information received on 4 July 2016.

Your request is being considered and the information will be provided
within the 20 working day statutory timescale, this is subject to the
information not being exempt or containing reference to any third party.

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 defines a number of exemptions, if any
of these exemptions apply to the information you have requested then the
information may not be released. You will be informed if this is the case
along with details of your right to appeal.

The application of an exemption may mean that the information you have
requested may take longer to provide than the 20 working day limit. If
this is the case you will be notified in writing along with the additional
time required to consider your application.

If the information you have requested contains references to a third party
then they may have to be consulted before the information can be released.
If this is the case you will be notified in writing.

If you have any queries please contact us.

 

Regards

 

FOI Team

 

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FOI, Richmond upon Thames Borough Council

 

Our Ref: JS/e19320

 

Dear Flo Night,

 

Your request for information which was received on 4 July 2016 has been
considered.

 

Please find our response below.

 

Your request:

 

1a) The number of times you have found people squatting in non-residential
buildings you own or control each year since 2010?

 

1b) I would like the date for each of these events and the full postcode
(so it does not identify the exact building but gives the small area so I
can see if a particular area is being targeted).

 

1c) The number of times you found people squatting in council owned
residential property from 2010 until the law change in September 2012.

 

 

2) The action taken against squatting in council owned or controlled,
non-residential buildings:

 

I would like to know for each event of squatting in council’s
non-residential property:

 

2a) whether the police were called?

 

2b) And if they were, how many arrests were made? And, if recorded, what
for?

 

2c) Was there a following criminal court case, and if so what for? Against
how many people? And what was the outcome? (As if there was, you would
most likely have to attend as a witness to the trespassing or submit
evidence and so could potentially record this information).

 

2d) Was civil court action taken to remove the trespassers? If so:

·         How much was spent in total on lawyers/legal fees/court costs?

·         Was an IPO used?

·         Were high court bailiffs booked? Or county court bailiffs?

·         How much was spent on the hire of bailiffs?

 

2e) An estimate of how long squatters had been there before eviction?

 

 

3) Use of live-in guardians to secure non-residential buildings against
squatters (also known as protection by occupation):

 

3a) How many non-residential buildings have you protected with live-in
guardians each year since 2010?

 

3b) For each time you have used guardians to secure non-residential
buildings you own or control since 2010 can I be told:

 

3bA) The date the contract started and the date it ended (or if it is
still going)

 

3bB) The name of the guardian company you used?

 

3bC) If you put a limit on how many people can live in the building, and
if so what is it?

 

3bD) Had this building previously been squatted? If so, how many times?

 

3bE) The total, or monthly cost/income, of hiring the guardian company to
put live-in guardians in this building? (This I because I know some
guardian business models charge the owner and others pay the owner of the
building).

 

3bF) The type of non-residential property? (eg. Shop/nursery/school etc.)

 

Our response:

 

1(a) Seven

1(b) (i) TW2 6RF March 2016 (ii) TW2 6RF Aug 2015 (iii) TW2 6RF May 2015
(iv) TW10 6LN Jan 2013 (v) SW14 8HY Feb 2010 (vi) SW14 8HY July 2010 (vii)
TW11 8UH March 2012

2(a) No

2(b) Not applicable

2 (c ) No

2 (d) Yes in 6 of the cases

2 (e ) Average length of time from first report of squatters to bailiff
eviction following court order 2 months.     

3) We do not use property guardians

 

I hope you are satisfied with this response.

 

If you are dissatisfied please let us know in writing, setting out your
reasons why and send to:

 

Corporate Complaints and Access to Information Manager

Community Engagement & Accountability Team

Adult and Community Services

3rd Floor Civic Centre

44 York Street

Twickenham

TW1 3BZ

E-mail: [1][Richmond upon Thames Borough Council request email]

 

 

Regards

 

Jane Shields LLB LLM

Data Protection and Information Officer

Community Engagement and Accountability Team

Adult and Community Services

[2][email address]

0208 891 7531

 

 

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If you have received this message in error you must not print, copy, use
or disclose the contents, but must delete it from your system and inform
the sender of the error. You should be aware that all emails received and
sent by the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames may be stored or
monitored, or disclosed to authorised third parties, in accordance with
relevant legislation.

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1. mailto:[Richmond upon Thames Borough Council request email]
2. mailto:[email address]

Dear Richmond upon Thames Borough Council,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of Richmond upon Thames Borough Council's handling of my FOI request 'Squatting in non-residential property.'.

Two questions were not answered. Could I please have the answers or be told why they were not answered. The questions are:

1c) The number of times you found people squatting in council owned
residential property from 2010 until the law change in September 2012.

2d) Was civil court action taken to remove the trespassers? If so:

· How much was spent in total on lawyers/legal fees/court costs?

· Was an IPO used?

· Were high court bailiffs booked? Or county court bailiffs?

· How much was spent on the hire of bailiffs?

With 2d you answered the first part, but nothing about legal costs, what eviction process (IPO/high court bailiffs/county court bailiffs) or how much sent on bailiffs.

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/s...

Yours faithfully,

Flo Night

FOI, Richmond upon Thames Borough Council

Dear Ms Night

As you are unhappy with our response; I have logged your email as a request for an Internal Review of our decision.

A senior officer not involved with this response will consider your request.

We will endeavour to respond as soon as possible and no later than 20 working days.

Kind regards

Jane Shields LLB LLM
Data Protection and Information Officer
Community Engagement and Accountability Team Adult and Community Services [email address]
0208 891 7531

Our Ref: e19320\811560

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David Fellows,

2 Attachments

Dear Ms Night

 

I refer to your request for an Internal review of the London Borough of
Richmond upon Thames Response.

 

I now attach a copy of my decision for your attention.

 

Please confirm safe receipt by return of email.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

David Fellows

Team Manager – Litigation & Planning
South London Legal Partnership
Gifford House, 67c St Helier Avenue, Morden, SM4 6HY

DX 161030 Morden 3

 

Direct: 020 8545 4568

[mobile number]

Fax: 020 8545 3244 

[1]Description: cid:image002.jpg@01D08BE9.550FE410

 

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