18 arrests as Mansion is evicted & drones conference resisted

bristol | policing | feature

Tuesday April 10, 2012 11:12

by Various

Squatters face up to riot police after the illegal eviction

Report and statement from members of Bristol Defendant Solidarity, ABC and Afed.

After losing to a possession order in court from the Bank of Scotland, squatters held another party at Clifton Wood House that ended with 11 arrests. At about 6am, police gained entry to the £3 million mansion under the Criminal Justice Act due to noise complaints, where they were met by a crowd of 35 angry ravers. The party goers then successfully resisted attempts to shut down the party by charging the cops to remove them from the building. Police responded by calling backup involving 50 officers, who closed off Clifton Wood Road, and proceeded to illegally evict the squatters from their home and seize sound equipment.

This led to a series of arrests from public order to assault-pc as individuals attempted to resist the police-led eviction. A video shows someone bleeding from the nose during arrest and being threatened with a taser, followed by another person being dragged off in a neck lock by an officer defending himself armed with CS spray. Currently five people ranging from 17-19 years old have now been charged; two with assault-pc (one who also has resisting arrest) and another two with section 5 offenses. The full report and statement continues here.

Meet 1pm on Saturday 14th April @ Metropolis Stokes Croft to defend our squats!

Links: Bristol Defendant Solidarity | Bristol Anarchist Black Cross | Bristol Anarchist Federation | Bristol Squattastic