SQUATTERS have been forced out of two flats as police make the most of new legislation.
They swooped on the addresses in Fairfax Drive, Westcliff, and Sutton Road, Southend, after teenagers forced vulnerable residents out of the properties and took them over.
Both addresses had been linked to drug abuse.
The raids were conducted yesterday off the back of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act which brought in earlier this month to make squatting a criminal offence.
No arrests were made, but both properties were secured with robust steel security doors by South Essex Homes.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel