Building owners take on Youtube trespassers

OWNERS of some of Britain’s leading landmarks are pursuing legal action to challenge the daredevils who climb their buildings and film their exploits for Youtube.

Lloyd’s of London has revealed that it is working to secure a court injunction to stop so-called urban explorers from not only trespassing on their property, but climbing their buildings with little to no equipment.

The legal action comes after Lloyd’s head office became a magnet for explorers to climb in recent years.

The insurer is not the only business to have fallen victim to the growing Youtube trend of free runners filming their climbing challenges. Urban explorers have scaled a number of recognisable buildings including Old Trafford, the Etihad Stadium and Stamford Bridge in the past year.

According to court documents, Lloyd’s lawyer stated: “The increase in frequency of trespassers not only increases the risk of injury, but also poses a threat to the security of Lloyd’s inasmuch as the global broadcasting of these incidents openly provides information about access points to future trespassers as well as future trespassers with malicious intent.”

In December both Manchester United and Chelsea FC were granted injunctions. Climbers attempted to access Old Trafford in June and September, prompting the club to take legal action and being granted an injunction forbidding any further attempts.

The owners of Manchester City obtained a similar court order after Youtuber Ally Law recorded himself breaking into the Etihad Stadium and making his way to the roof, before being led away by a police officer.