Pictured above: John Truslove, Business Property Consultant

A Midlands commercial property expert has welcomed Government moves to get tough on squatters.

John Truslove, of Redditch-based agency John Truslove, said a clamp-down was long overdue.

Squatters could be fined or even jailed under plans currently under consideration.

At present, homeowners in England have to obtain an order from the civil courts to force squatters out.

But the Ministry of Justice is said to be looking at how to strengthen the law, and one option is to make squatting a criminal offence as it is in Scotland. Squatters there can be fined £200 and jailed for up to 21 days if they fail to pay.

A review is also examining if interim possession orders, requiring squatters to leave a property, could be granted by the courts within 24 hours rather than taking up to a week.

The Government is seemingly determined to act after a series of high-profile cases in London.

One of the most recent to hit the headlines was jobless Jason Ruddick who travelled 1,500 miles from his home in Latvia after hearing the UK was an "easy touch".

The 21-year-old took over a £10 million, 10-bed Victorian home, with George Michael, Sadie Frost, Sting and Jude Law for neighbours.

But, cautioned Mr Truslove, squatting is a problem which affects all types of property owners in all areas of Britain.

He said: "Squatters take over shops and shift cheap tat in the run-up to Christmas. And a nice warm empty office or warehouse is not to be sneezed at in the depths of winter.

"Of course, once you have squatters then the detritus of their life ends up in the garden, they are prone to start fires, and they may practice their "art" all over the walls.

"So both commercial property and residential letting agents need to beware."

Mr Truslove said it paid to take a few basic precautions like keeping your insurer informed if a property becomes empty.

Don't let the post pile up - if it is in view you are inviting trouble.

Keep properties secure when unoccupied. Make sure there are no easy access points such as an unlocked window.

Give the appearance of occupation. Ensure curtains or blinds are in place and perhaps have someone make regular visits. Leave radios switched on, and lights on timers.

Cut the grass.

He went on: "If, despite all your precautions, squatters do get in and you can't persuade them to see sense then you will have little choice but to resort to the courts.

"Once you obtain your interim possession order it must be served on the squatters within 48 hours. The squatters will then be required to leave within 24 hours and not return within 12 months.

"If they refuse, cause damage or steal things they are committing a criminal offence and risk arrest by the police or eviction by a court bailiff."

Mr Truslove added: "The Government needs to get a grip of this menace.

"Squatters can be a nightmare to remove and the whole process could cost you thousands of pounds."

For more information on John Truslove, view the website here: www.johntruslove.com