Destruction of Occupation London

Occupy London camp destroyed by police in riot gear

RT, 28 February, 2012

The Occupy London camp outside St Paul's Cathedral was destroyed early Tuesday. Hundreds of officers converged on the camp just before midnight local time and began to dismantle what had been home to around 70 activists.

Bailiffs in high-visibility jackets dragged tents and their contents to garbage trucks and dumpsters where they were crushed. Police in riot gear formed cordons to keep protesters and their supporters out of the camp. Activists say the police were met with peaceful resistance.  However, media reports say around 20 protesters have been detained.

Several dozen protesters have been camped on the steps of St Paul's Cathedral since October last year. It was one of the longest-surviving encampments inspired by the New York “Occupy Wall Street” movement against corporate greed.

Last week a court rejected an appeal by protesters against the eviction order. The court ruled that the right to protest did not justify a semi-permanent camp on a public pathway. Local authorities also claim the camp harmed nearby businesses, caused waste and hygiene problems, and attracted crime and disorder.

Occupation London eviction

Occupy London: police and bailiffs move in to evict St Paul's protesters

Activists given five minutes to pack and leave after high court decision gives City of London green light to clear encampment

the Guardian, 

28 February, 2012, 01.58 GMT

Police and bailiffs have moved in to begin clearing the Occupy London encampment outside St Paul's Cathedral, after a high court decision gave the green light for the City of London to clear the protest site.

Activists were told by bailiffs that they had five minutes to pack their tents and leave or they would be obstructing a court order. The eviction began shortly after midnight.

Dozens of activists appeared ready to comply and started clearing away tents and other belongings, but a number of protesters immediately began building an improvised barricaded enclosure using wooden pallets and pieces of debris.

Hundreds of police officers in the immediate area of the square had riot helmets ready by their sides, and smaller detachments of riot officers carrying shields stood ready to one side.

Dozens of bailiffs in yellow vests waited alongside rubbish lorries, and police in blue overalls, who had riot helmets strapped to their sides, stood by and watched as many of the protesters started taking down their shelters.

One group, however, appeared ready to resist any attempts to remove them as police set up a cordon between the camp and the entrance to the cathedral. At midnight, five spotlights illuminated the square and the protesters as the standoff continued.

City of London and Metropolitan police cleared and then blocked roads around the square where protesters have been camping since late last year as part of a protest against the financial and banking elite.

Inside the small enclosure, which a number of activists had built up, one man let off a red smoke flare while nearby a speaker system pumped out music.

One protester, Ed Greens from north London, said he had been with Occupy since last year. 

"We were expecting them on Monday night or soon after," he said. "Some people will resist things like this, but for me personally there is nothing wrong with self-defence."

Among those at the scene were Symon Hill, associate director of the Ekklesia thinktank, who said that the word had gone out for dozens of Christians to come to the scene as part of plans to put in place "a ring of prayer" in an attempt to halt any violence.

Catherine Brogan, a poet and high-profile member of the Occupy movement, said it made sense for the authorities to come on a Monday night.

"There was talk of prayer rings and of other people coming down to support us when this happened, but many of our supporters are elderly or obviously live in areas other than the centre of London, so this would have caught them by surprise," she said.

"This has always been a peaceful process, and it has never looked like turning into anything other than that," she added. "There's definitely no Molotov cocktails stashed, it is very timid. I just hope the police respect that, and don't react in the way I've seen them reacting at other times, at other protests."

Activists from the camp say they will take their case to the European court of human rights, but judges denied them a stay of eviction, and it is understood that the City of London Corporation, which brought the case against the protest camp, has has now acted to remove up to 100 tents from the grounds of the cathedral.

A City of London statement said last night: "We regret that it has come to this, but the high court judgment speaks for itself, and the court of appeal has confirmed that judgment. High court enforcement officers employed by the City of London Corporation are undertaking the removal with the police present to ensure public safety and maintain order. We would ask protesters to move on peaceably.

"The City of London Corporation is ensuring vulnerable people are being helped and supported to find appropriate accommodation in partnership with Broadway, a charity for the homeless."

Occupy London protesters accuse St Paul's of betrayal

City of London police say St Paul's gave them permission to remove activists from cathedral steps during eviction

St Paul's Cathedral has been accused of "betraying" Occupy London activists after giving the City of London police permission to remove protesters from its steps and end the four-and-a-half month camp.

Occupation London

We haven’t heard from Occupation London for a while

Diehards battle on as St Paul's camp packs up

Protesters at St Paul's Cathedral have begun packing up their tents and leaving after they lost a legal battle to stay.

London Evening Standard,

23 February, 2012

About 10 Occupy supporters departed overnight and others said they would go voluntarily today instead of waiting to be evicted by bailiffs.

The group's kitchen tent has gone and members of the four-month-old camp said it was now an "empty shell".

However, a die-hard contingent said they would stay and make a peaceful "last stand" against City of London Corporation attempts to clear the site.

Senior High Court judges yesterday denied camp members leave to appeal against a decision to remove their tents for blocking the public highway.

One UK Anonymous protester from Wiltshire said he intended to remove his possessions from his tent but would stay at the site until the bailiffs come. He added: "We will resist without performing any arrestable offence."

Several activists were this morning packing up equipment and preparing to leave for destinations including the Occupy camp at Finsbury Square and an eco-lodge in Epping Forest.

A camp member calling himself Rainbow Warrior, 60, from Enfield, said: "The homeless are staying as they have nowhere to go but I have £1,000 of stuff and I don't want it to be damaged."

A "general assembly" held last night for camp members to discuss the next move agreed to challenge the corporation's order to remove them in the European Court of Human Rights. But with the long backlog of cases at the Strasbourg court, it could be months or even years before the case is heard - meaning the camp will already have been cleared.

Occupier Matt Varnham, who gives the group legal advice, said: "There is no stay of execution. We know for sure the camp will not be here in a few days.

"I'm advising that if tents and belongings are left behind they are likely to be destroyed by bailiffs. With that in mind, people are packing their things."

Mr Varnham said he expected "peaceful resistance" to the eviction, saying: "People will certainly put themselves on the steps of the cathedral. A lot are adamant they're going to stay and are preparing for a last stand."

Occupy members insisted the movement will go on and announced plans to camp in all 32 London boroughs.

Occupation London

Occupy London assault: Bailiff plows car through protesters

RT

Police in London have been accused of excessive force in their efforts to clear out Occupy demonstrators. Protesters stood together last night as officers broke down the doors to their camps. RT's Laura Smith has more on the London based battle between occupiers and officers.

Occupation London

New Occupy protest in City of London sees three arrests

Three people have been arrested after demonstrators from the Occupy London movement briefly took over another building in the financial district.

BBC,

28 January, 2012

Protesters entered a site in Leadenhall Street, in the City, which they said belonged to a defunct Iraqi bank.

City of London Police said on Friday night three people had been arrested on suspicion of trespassing on diplomatic premises but others had left earlier.

Demonstrators have also been camped outside St Paul's Cathedral for months.

Occupy London said the eight-floor building occupied in Leadenhall Street belonged to Rafidain Bank.

'Bank of Ideas'

A spokesman said the group decided to occupy the new site as protesters were being forced to move out of another empty bank building in central London - premises on Sun Street belonging to UBS.

The bank was granted a possession order for the building on Thursday afternoon.

"It is likely this will be the new home for the Bank of Ideas," an Occupy London spokeswoman said earlier on Friday.

"This is about public repossession, taking buildings that have been allowed to lie empty in prime city spaces and taking them back for the community.

"We would like to look after it and put it to good social use."

City of London Police said: "Three people have been arrested on suspicion of trespassing on diplomatic premises after a number of people entered a property on Leadenhall Street.

"Officers had earlier served notice that those in the building were committing a criminal offence and several left at this point. The building is now clear. "

A small group of protesters moved into Roman House, Barbican, on Saturday, but later vacated it.

Occupation London

Occupy London protesters take over fifth London site

The Occupy London protest group says it has taken over a fifth site in London.

BBC,

21 January, 2012

Up to 20 demonstrators moved into Roman House, on Fore Street, Barbican, in the City of London, in the early hours of Saturday, an Occupy spokesman said.

The "economic justice" campaigners said they planned to "open the building to the public" on Monday.

Berkeley Homes, which owns the empty office block, has asked protesters to leave, saying the building was "not safe for public use".

The firm said the property was being converted into 90 residential flats and the occupation was putting jobs at risk.

An Occupy London spokesman said the group would leave if there was a building contract in place, because to remain and put jobs at risk would be "so against what we are about".

City of London Corporation and police said they were aware of the occupation.

Protest 'misguided'

The 1950s building has been lying empty for the past few years. Protesters said they targeted it because it "previously housed companies from the financial service industries".

Berkeley Homes disputed this claim saying an architecture firm was the previous occupant of the eight-storey building.

The latest move from Occupy comes after the corporation won its High Court case on Wednesday to evict protesters from outside St Paul's Cathedral, where the Occupy London Stock Exchange group set up its tents on 15 October.

Berkeley Homes, owner of Roman House, said the building was "not safe for public use"

Since October the protest group has "occupied" Finsbury Square, an empty office building owned by the Swiss bank UBS in Sun Street, east London, and the empty Old Street Magistrates Court.

A statement on Occupy London's website said it had "publicly repossessed Roman House".

It added: "The Occupy London campaigners - part of the global movement for social and economic justice and real democracy - stated that they intend to occupy the building - their fifth occupation - until such time as the City of London Corporation publishes full details of its City cash accounts.

"The City of London Police have visited the building and have agreed that it is a civil matter."

A Berkeley Homes spokesman said: "We urge the protesters to vacate this building site as quickly as possible, as we are very concerned that they are putting both themselves, and members of the public, in real danger.

"It is not safe for public use, there are holes in the floors and we are in the early stages of asbestos removal.

City of London Police officers have been at the site since the morning

"The protesters are misguided in their actions which are sadly preventing Berkeley Homes from implementing their planning permission and so providing not only 90 much-needed new homes, but also a significant number of key construction jobs during an economic crisis.

"We are taking legal advice, particularly given the safety concerns, to ensure this potentially dangerous occupation ends quickly."

Occupy supporter Bryn Phillips, 28, dismissed the safety concerns, saying: "There was a log book inside the building and it was completely blank for asbestos.

"And we're only going to be occupying one floor at a time and that would be health and safety checked first."

The protesters plan to open the building to the public on 23 January, which will be the 100th day since they began the London chapter of a global movement against "corporate greed".

The group said it would use the venue to hold lectures and events, beginning with a lecture on the City's "secret finances and lobbying activities".

Occupy London protesters to appeal against eviction ruling

City of London Corporation wins high court case to remove protest camp from St Paul's churchyard

the Guardian,

18 January, 2012

Occupy London protesters camped outside St Paul's have vowed to carry on their legal fight as the City of London Corporation won its high court case to evict them from the cathedral churchyard.

Leave to appeal the ruling will be sought at the court of appeal on Thursday. Tammy Samede, as the principal named defendant, said outside the court: "This is not the end. Onwards and upwards for Occupy."

Her QC, John Cooper, said an appeal would be sought on whether the actions taken by the corporation were proportionate.

"This is an important judgment. It marks the start of a legal analysis as to the extent of protest in this country. What Occupy have done is push the boundaries of public law on protest," said Cooper.

For article GO HERE

Occupy London has lost a battle but started a war over public space

The Corporation of London claims it has no objection to protest, yet the erosion of the public realm makes it all but impossible

the Guardian,

18 January, 2012

The high court has ruled that the defence of the public highway is grounds for evicting Occupy London protesters from St Paul's. This could not be more ironic, given that the removal of public space in the City is at the nub of the row between the protesters and the Corporation of London.

Over the last 20 years, since the corporation quietly began privatising the City, hundreds of public highways, public pathways and rights of way in place for centuries have been closed. The reason why this is so important is that the removal of public rights of way also signals the removal of the right to political protest.

The protesters never intended to camp outside St Paul's. But as the land around the church remains just about the only public land in the City, they had nowhere else to go. The rest of the Square Mile has witnessed the gradual erosion of the public realm as the corporation gave the go-ahead to the patchwork of private estates which have taken over since the 1980s.

Hand in hand with the spread of new private estates has been the closure of public highways and public rights of way under an obscure piece of planning law, known as "stopping up orders". This little-known process, mired in the jargon of highways and transport legislation, allows local authorities to close roads permanently to allow new developments to be built. It has taken place in towns and cities across the country, where large private estates such as Liverpool One, Cabot Circus in Bristol and Westfield Stratford City have privatised streets and public places, banning a host of activities including taking photographs, filming and political protest. In Liverpool, Grosvenor now owns and controls 34 streets in the heart of the city and London's Paternoster Square, just behind St Paul's Cathedral, is a typical example. Home to the London Stock Exchange it was Occupy London's initial target. But because the square is private land the owners were able to issue a court injunction that banned the protesters, who went on to base the protest on the public land around St Paul's, which is owned by the Church of England and the Corporation of London.

As the dispute around St Paul's intensified, Paternoster Square revealed just how much power the owners of private estates are able to exercise over the public. Security guards manned the archway in front of the square blocking access while a makeshift sign pinned to a board outlined the legal situation. The sign read: "Paternoster Square is private land. Any licence to the public to enter or cross this land is revoked forthwith. There is no implied or express permission to enter the premises or any part. Any such entry will constitute a trespass. Access will only be granted to tenants of the adjoining buildings and their authorised visitors on proof of identity."

For months the windswept square has been virtually deserted and outlets such as the Quality Chop House and Pret a Manger have never been quieter. Clearly the response by owners Mistubishi Estates has been designed to prevent protesters getting in – but in the process they have also kept out the public.

The irony of what has been going on in Paternoster Square verges on the Orwellian. Since the beginning of the dispute the businesses in the square have complained that they have lost business, implying that the protesters have driven custom away. In reality, it is the owners who have banned the public from entering.

The design of this development was very controversial when it got the go-ahead, owing to the sensitivities of the site with its proximity to historic St Paul's. What no one debated at the time were the implications of closing ancient public highways and curtailing public access and democratic protest.

This is the context for the corporation's case, which is seeking to evict the protesters because they are obstructing public highways. The corporation claims that it has no objection to peaceful protest but that it is opposed to camping. The truth is that it has presided over the removal of the right to any protest, not only in Paternoster Square but throughout the City of London.

For video GO HERE

For other coverage in the Guardian GO HERE

Occupation London Stock Exchange

Occupy London activists take over Old Street courthouse

Members of the Occupy London protest have taken over the disused Old Street Magistrates Court in the city.

BBC, 

20 December, 2011

The group said they would stage "trials of the 1%" in the courthouse, the site of their fourth occupation.

The building, just over a mile north of St Paul's, has been empty since 1996.

A case to evict the protesters is being heard in the High Court after Occupy London ignored a City of London Corporation order to clear tents from the space outside St Paul's Cathedral.

The group first set up camp outside the cathedral on 15 October, before setting up a second camp in Finsbury Square weeks later.

The group then took over an empty office building owned by the Swiss Bank UBS on Sun Street, Moorgate, in November.

'Defecation and drugs'

A statement from the group said: "As Occupy London Stock Exchange occupation prepares to present its case at the High Court today, Occupy London supporters have liberated a disused courthouse, Old Street Magistrates Court, in London's East End alongside a group of military veterans, Occupy Veterans.

"The opening of Occupy London's fourth occupation will see the movement conducting 'trials of the 1%' in the abandoned magistrates court building which has lain empty since 1996, despite its prime location and Grade II listing."

A four-day High Court hearing over the eviction of protesters camped outside St Paul's Cathedral began on Monday, with the presiding judge visiting the camp during the evening.

Lawyer David Forsdick told the court on Monday that the protest had attracted "vulnerable people".

The City of London Corporation (CLC) has complained of "defecation" and "drugs" at the camp.

Occupy protesters, who are campaigning against corporate greed, said many of the claims were without basis.

The protesters are expected to start reducing the size of the camp in the new year.

Occupation London stock exchange

Police in City see occupiers as 'terror' risk

the Independant,

MONDAY 05 DECEMBER 2011

The City of London Police force was facing criticism last night after including the Occupy London demonstration in a letter warning businesses about potential terrorist threats.

The letter, a "Terrorism/Extremism Update", lists al-Qa'ida, the Colombian dissidents Farc, and Belarusian terrorists who bombed the Minsk underground. It also lists Occupy London under the heading "Domestic".

It states: "It is likely that activists aspire to identify other locations to occupy, especially those they identify with capitalism. City of London Police has received a number of hostile reconnaissance reports concerning individuals who would fit the anti-capitalist profile. All are asked to be vigilant regarding suspected reconnaissance, particularly around empty buildings."

An Occupy London spokesman said: "Activism is not a crime and the desire to participate in democratic decision-making should not be a cause for concern for the police in any free society."

A police source said the letter was authentic but was poorly worded and never meant to imply demonstrators posed a terrorist threat.

An institution that confuses active citizens with criminals and equates al-Qa'ida with efforts to reimagine the city is an institution in danger of losing its way."

Occupation of mining company building in London

"Occupy" protesters break into London office

Demonstrators broke into an office building used by mining company Xstrata in central London Wednesday and hung protest banners on the roof before police regained control of the building.

Reuters,

30 November, 2011

A group of about 60 from the "Occupy" movement entered the offices in Haymarket in protest at the pay of the company's chief executive, Occupy said in a statement.

Led by a samba band, they chanted and unfurled a banner which said: "All power to the 99 percent."

A spokeswoman for Xstrata said in a statement: "All executive pay is approved by the company's shareholders and is linked to company and individual performance."

Police removed the demonstrators and threw a cordon along the Haymarket, effectively sealing off the immediate area.

"At approximately 1550 hours (GMT) a containment was put in place outside Panton House, Haymarket, to prevent disorder by a group of protesters outside the building," police said in a statement.

"Some protesters have entered the building and officers are in the process of making arrests for aggravated trespass."

It was unclear how many people were arrested.

TV footage showed demonstrators walking up and down the staircase, watched by members of staff.

The raid took place on the same day as thousands of public sector workers marched through London as part of a national day of protest against government plans to change their pensions.

"In this time when the government enforces austerity on the 99 percent, these executives are profiting," Karen Lincoln of Occupy London said in a statement.

Occupy London grabbed the headlines last month when they pitched about 200 tents outside St Paul's Cathedral after they were thwarted in an attempt to stage a protest outside their initial target, the London Stock Exchange.

Their protest is part of a global movement for social and economic change. They say economic and political power lies in the hands of just 1 percent of the population.

VIDEO OF OCCUPY LONDON STORMING BUILDING OF HIGHEST PAID CEO IN UK

Having previously occupied an unused UBS building, about 60 members of Occupy London broke into an office building used by mining company Xstrata today before police regained control, reports Reuters.

According to the movement's own newspaper, the Occupied Times, the aim of the occupation was to target Xstrata's CEO Mick Davies, the highest paid CEO among FTSE 100 companies. 

Protesters reached the office's roof, hanging a banner reading "All Power To The 99%."