Squat Group evicted from Sally Army building despite Covid claims
AN eviction was carried out at the Salvation Army squat in South Bristol yesterday. There was a large police presence outside the squat and Dean Lane was closed, with specialist climber police also in attendance.
Avon and Somerset Police said the operation was being led by the Salvation Army and its team of bailiffs with Avon and Somerset officers present to assist.
The police spokesman said one man was arrested by officers at the scene as he was wanted by Thames Valley police in connection with an unrelated assault investigation.
It first became apparent that squatters had moved into the building in Bedminster in midMay.
At the time, a notice was placed outside the building which had the header “legal warning” and was signed by “The Occupiers”.
But a possession order in relation to the building was granted by the county court and came into effect at the start of this month, which meant the squatters could be evicted from that building at any point from then.
Witnesses at the scene yesterday reported the presence of a total of nine police vans, one ambulance, four other police vehicles and several other vehicles from a bailiff company.
Inside the former Salvation Army building, bailiffs worked to make the entrances secure, while a large police presence remained on scene in case of any issues.
The evicted squatters, around ten, moved to a skatepark behind the building, shouting at police.
The squatters put out a statement on their Instagram page, saying: “The Salvation Army squat has just been evicted (even though we have Covid).
“We are in the skate park, come and show support if you are up but make sure to keep socially distanced.
“Most cops have gone now, but security is blocking Booth Street entrance to the park so come from the other entrance.”
One squatter, who didn’t wish to be named, said: “They came early and got us out and it’s a real shame.
“Some of us have tested positive for Covid and we were all isolating, and they knew that, but still came in large numbers.
“So they have not only put us onto the streets when we should be isolating, but they have put themselves and the community at risk in doing this. They could easily have waited.”