Squatters announce their intention to stay put at The Italians in Chiswick High Road

The Italians premises on Chiswick High Road has been occupied by squatters; photograph Annabel Moody

They claim they are legally entitled to be there and threaten to prosecute anyone who tries to force entry

A sign has appeared on the door of the premises on Chiswick High Road which until recently was occupied by The Italians specialist grocery and wine bar,  announcing it has been occupied by squatters and they intend to stay.

The notice is titled: ‘This pub is a non-residential building. Section 144, LASPO does NOT apply’.

Section 144 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO) made squatting in a residential building a criminal offense in England and Wales. It came into force on September 1, 2012, changing residential squatting from a purely civil matter into a criminal one that allows for police arrests and prosecution.

The sign asserts that the building, left empty by The Italians, is not a residential building and that the stated intention of the Ministry of Justice in introducing the legislation was that the Government would not seek to criminalise squatting in non-residential buildings such as disused factories, warehouses or pubs.

Therefore it would be illegal to arrest them and initiate a criminal prosecution.

“They obviously know what they’re doing”, a property expert told The Chiswick Calendar.

“It will be time consuming and expensive to get them out”.

The squatters’ message warns they are occupying the building, that there is someone there at all times, and any entry or attempt to enter without their permission would be a criminal offence.

They go on to say that if anyone tries to force entry, they will prosecute them.

‘If you want to get us out you will have to issue a claim for possession in the County Court or in the High Court’.

The Italians closed the bakery at 454-456 Chiswick High Road in December last year. At that point they said it was their intention to keep the deli counter and wine bar at 460 Chiswick High Road open, but they also subsequently closed.

READ ALSO: The Italians close bakery on Chiswick High Road

The Chiswick Calendar understands they hold the lease until 2036, so it would be their responsibility to repossess the building, not the landlord’s.

The Italians premises on Chiswick High Road; photograph Annabel Moody

The Chiswick Calendar has tried contacting the various numbers for The Italians on their website, but we receive the same message from all of them: ‘Calls are not currently being connected to this number’,