In England, a couple is furious after police allow gypsies to live in their stolen caravan,
You're closer to the truth that you think!! In Victoria, a 'squatter' can move in an empty house and claim 'squatters rights'. (This is more or less the case throughout the Commonwealth). Anyhow, without getting into legal specifics and case Law; there are certain criteria. The house must be empty for a reasonable time (not just away for a week's holiday) and not being used as a home. Many houses in my old 'patch' were being taken over by local 'yahoos' who were claiming to be 'squatters'. Any legal action against them requires proof by both side as to whether the house was uninhabited, any shortage of local housing for lower socio economic persons, what steps the 'squatter' had taken to offer a nominal recompense in lieu of rent, what improvements the 'squatter' had made etc, etc. In one particular case, a house had been up for rent for over a year (rent too high or house too shabby) and a couple of local teenagers decided to move in. They had the power, water and phone connected, mail re routed and all their banking and other details changed to this address. They cleared some of the overgrown bushes and mowed the lawns, cleaned up cobwebs and accumulated dust. After a couple of months, the local real estate agent rang us to complain that these teenagers were trespassing in their client's house and wanted them removed. We attend and are promptly told by the teenagers that they are invoking 'squatters rights' (normally a visit by Plod will convince them to move on). These teenagers were adamant and had obviously had legal advice as they were able to quote chapter and verse on 'squatters rights'. We contacted VCAT, RESI, our own Legal Eagles with the same result. We tell the estate agent that he will have to apply for a warrant of possession through the courts. The agent says but this will take months if not a year or more to resolve and great legal cost. I offered an alternative solution. If a second group of larger squatters kicked out the first group then the agent would be able to ask the second group to please vacate, then the second group would voluntarily comply. "Great" says the agent, "But where would I find such a second group of squatters?" Some people just can't read between the lines.
