Police ' persuade' squatter to leave

A SQUATTER has been ' persuaded' to leave a house he broke into on a central Dénia street thanks to a nonforceful intervention by the National Police and social services.

Through a recent decree issued at state level, law enforcement agents are able to take certain, limited action to attempt to remove squatters from private property, working with local councils to provide social housing if the illegal occupants would otherwise be homeless.

A 29yearold man had forced his way into the house, the original owner of which had died but it had been abandioned by the people who inherited it.

Although he is believed to be genuinely in need of a home, and had not deprived a legitimate resident of the use of their property, the squatter's neighbours and local traders had complained repeatedly about his ' behaviour'.

The nature of this behaviour was not revealed, but it is often the main issue in cases of squatters in abandoned properties or empty bankowned repossessions, rather than their presence per se.

Dénia police called in the electricity company to cut off the supply, since the occupant had hooked up to the grid via the ' back door' to avoid paying – which they said not only increases bills for legitimate customers, but also poses a major fire risk.

They talked the man into voluntarily leaving the building and gave him time to collect his very scant possessions. If he is otherwise homeless, the council will try to rehouse him.

Police identified him and are investigating his background to see whether he was the victim of a mafiastyle criminal organisation specialising in ' selling' squats and holding homeowners to ransom.