COUNCIL WELCOMES BAN ON HOMELESS PROTEST CAMP

Angry scenes in court as judge backs town hall’s bid to get exclusion order against city centre tents

MANCHESTER council has welcomed a legal victory that will see the homeless protest camp banned from the entire city centre.

Council chiefs said they would now work to reclaim St Ann’s Square and Castlefield basin, currently home to two separate clusters of tents.

They were responding to a court ruling, made on Thursday afternoon, that will slap an injunction on the whole city centre.

It means anyone seeking to pitch a tent will need permission from the council or the land’s legal occupant – or face up to two years in jail.

Coun Nigel Murphy, executive member for neighbourhoods, said: “We are pleased that the courts have granted the exclusion order we asked for, which is specifically designed to prevent the recurrence of camps and not targeted at individual rough sleepers.

“The court found in our favour after listening to the evidence we presented about the amount of disruption these camps have caused to residents and businesses, as well as anti-social behaviour including the burning of bonfires, vandalism, street drinking and the intimidation of members of the public.

“We hope the decision to grant this city centrewide injunction will put an end to this disruption. We will now be working with Greater Manchester Police and court bailiffs to regain possession of the site as soon as possible.

“Our homeless team will also be visiting the camps – as they have done since the tents first appeared on Albert Square back in April – to offer support, guidance and accommodation to anyone who requires it.”

The camp started out in Albert Square back in April, but the protesters were evicted by the council.

They then moved on to St Peter’s Square before being hit by another eviction notice – and moving to St Ann’s Square and Castlefield.

Furious

protesters swore at District Judge Ranj Matharu when she gave her verdict at Manchester Civil Justice Centre.

One warned her: “Remember my face. You will be seeing it again,” before storming out of the courtroom.

In response she said: “Threatening a judge is not an appropriate response to a judicial decision. He told the court to remember his face. I consider that to be a threat.”

She said she would consider reporting the incident to the police.