News / gloucester road
Riot police deployed as squatters evicted from Gloucester Road building
Three people were arrested as police and bailiffs evicted a group of squatters who had been living in a building on Gloucester Road for several months.
Dozens of people turned up to support those being evicted from the former Randstad office on the corner of Longmead Avenue, close to Horfield prison.
Police horses and officers with riot shields were deployed, with the three arrests made for breaches of coronavirus rules.
Bailiffs arrived at the building at around 8.30am on Wednesday, with the last of the squatters leaving shortly before 5pm.
‘All bailiffs are class traitors’ read one banner hung from the building. Another read: ‘All evictions are inhumane’.
A spokeswoman for Avon and Somerset police said: “Officers in Bristol attended the former Randstad office on Gloucester Road today (Wednesday) where bailiffs were serving an eviction order against a number of people staying in the building.
“While this was a civil matter, police were on the scene to monitor the situation to prevent a breach of the peace.
“This afternoon, it was necessary for officers to arrest three individuals for breaches of Covid-19 legislation. One of those arrested, a man, was additionally arrested for assaulting an emergency worker.
“Bailiffs have now taken control of the premises and officers have resumed their normal patrols, and will maintain a visible presence in the area.”
A group of people sat in the road and refused to leave after the eviction took place – photo: Martin Booth
Squatters hung banners from the building they were occupying – photo: Martin Booth
Main photo: Martin Booth
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