The ALS was geared more toward direct action and was open to licensed and unlicensed squatters, thus it was perceived as more militant.
[5] Squatting in residential buildings was criminalised in England and Wales in 2012 by the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012, prompting A.S.S.
and the campaign group Squatters' Action for Secure Homes (SQUASH) to release advice on the changed legal situation.
told Vice News in 2020 that the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom had resulted in a general increase of illegal evictions by bailiffs and members of the public in London.
was subject to controversy in the mainstream media after Eric Pickles, Conservative MP for Brentwood and Ongar, criticised councils for listing the Squatters Handbook and contact details for A.S.S.
He said "Homeowners will be horrified that town halls are giving squatters the green light to break into law-abiding citizens’ homes [...] Promoting such lawlessness is breathtaking, but is sadly an indictment of social breakdown that has become rife under Labour and the prevalence of human rights laws.
issued a press release explaining that councils listed it "because we offer free advice to homeless people and those with housing problems [...] A.S.S does not promote lawlessness, as squatting is still legal.
[12][13] The Daily Mail then wrote an article entitled "Professional agencies marketing empty homes to potential squatters?"
responded to two Daily Mail articles written by Max Hastings and Andrew Levy which both talked about "Moldovan squatters", describing them as lacking in evidence and "clearly designed to stir up tensions against people because of their nationality".