Occupy London Protesters Evicted

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Monday 30th January

An operation has been carried out in the city to remove Occupy London protestors from the so-called Bank of Ideas.

The empty building - owned by banking giant UBS - was turned into a centre of learning by the occupiers when they moved in last November, who made it clear at the start that it wasn't to become a squat but would be used for a space to put on lectures and encourage education.

Police and bailiffs moved into the building on Earl Street at around 1am this morning removing fifty people.

One person was arrested but has since been released.

A man - thought to be a bailiff - has been arrested after allegations a car was driven at protestors.

The company employed to provide bailiffs for the eviction - Rossendale High Court Enforcement - insist none of their staff have been arrested.

Scotland Yard however have us a 45 year old bailiff is being held at a North London police station after accusations of assault.

Most of the activists have moved to the main camp at St Paul's Cathedral, with one protester telling LBC too much force was used by officers.

Speaking to LBC 97.3's reporter Declan Harvey a female protestor who was one of those evicted said she believes the police went about it the wrong way.

"It horrifies me that we have almost secret police operations, taken out of the eye of the public. I feel its not the right direction for the police force to go in. They've had the whole weekend."

She went on to claim that everyone had agreed to leave the building before the forced eviction took place.

It comes just days after another building taken over by protestors was cleared by police.

On Friday night three people were arrested on suspicion of trespassing in another former City bank.

Occupy London announced last week they had set up another camp - in a branch of the Iraqi Rafidain Bank - in addition to the Bank of Ideas, a camp in Finsbury Park and the main camp outside St Paul's Cathedral.

The building has been empty since it went into administration last year and a spokesman for the group said they wanted a "community space" for workshops.