[2] This section has been widely used by squatters in England and Wales, as it makes it a crime in most circumstances for the landlord to force entry, as long as the squatters are physically present and express opposition to the landlord's entry.

"Squatters rights" do not apply when the property appears to be occupied (e.g. there are signs of current use, furniture, etc.).

Section 6 is referred to in printed legal warnings, which are commonly displayed near the entrances to squatted buildings.

Laws regarding squatting residential properties were revised in the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012.

[4] This section abolished existing offences and repealed earlier statutes that were superseded by Part II of the Act.

It was enacted in response to the successful appeal in R v Goodchild [1977] 2 All ER 163, [1977] 1 WLR 473 for the possession of dried leaves and stalks of the plant containing cannabis resin because these could not be described as "flowering and fruiting tops" of the plant and therefore did not fall within the definition then provided.

This section amends the Rabies Act 1974 and the Diseases of Animals (Northern Ireland) Order 1975.

This section implemented recommendations contained in the Report of the Committee on Death Certificates and Coroners (Cmnd 4810) (1971).