Questions raised over legal services after squatters case

A recent case in which squatters were given access to free legal services to help them fight to remain in a property has raised issues.

Then owner of the £1 million home this week expressed anger after the squatters won their battle to stay with the help of hundreds of pounds of free legal advice.

John Hamilton-Brown fought a court battle over his Archway home which was thrown out over a technicality. As a result, the squatters, who come from Poland, France and Spain, can now remain in the property for a further two weeks and could have six weeks before they are evicted.

Mr Hamilton-Brown, a father of two, could not afford legal help so represented himself at Clerkenwell and Shoreditch County Court.

"I was horrified they were given legal representation. As I work and pay taxes, I'm at a disadvantage," he said.

As the squatters were both unemployed and European Union citizens they were eligible for free legal services.

Despite this, reforms to the justice system by the Legal Services Commission meant that last year under 30 per cent of people were entitled to receive free legal help form a solicitor, compared to 51 per cent in 1998.

Posted by Hannah Carr