Shutdown of City protest sparks arrests
ANGRY scenes erupted yesterday as bailiffs evicted protesters from two City bank offices.
A 45-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and another man was held and later released. Activists, including some from Occupy London, were removed in the early hours from the so-called Earl Street Community Centre, which is believed to be owned by UBS.
Protesters accused bailiffs Rossendales of punching a photographer and driving a car towards the protesters.
A spokesman for the firm said: “One of our officers was asked to attend the police station and has provided a statement to police. This matter was brought to our attention and is the subject of our own and police inquiries.”
The Metropolitan Police declined to comment on Occupy claims of police aggression.
Earlier bailiffs had peacefully removed the ten remaining people from inside the Bank of Ideas, an empty office which is owned by Sun Street Properties, a subsidiary of UBS, which declined to comment.
Separately, protesters camped outside St Paul’s Cathedral will return to the High Court on 13 February to ask for leave to appeal against their eviction.