Occupy London - Evicted

 Some protesters erected a makeshift barricade, but most moved on peacefully

Police and bailiffs have evicted anti-capitalist protesters and removed tents from the Occupy London camp at St Paul's Cathedral. The operation, which began just after midnight, was mostly peaceful but there were 20 arrests.

Occupy London was refused permission to appeal against a High Court decision to allow their eviction to proceed. The City of London Corporation said it "regretted" that it had become necessary to evict the protesters.  Occupy London, which campaigns against corporate greed, set up the camp on 15 October.

Protesters in the square outside the cathedral stressed their action was far from over, but most did not resist police and bailiffs as they removed tents and other equipment from the site. A handful defied police by erecting a temporary structure from wooden pallets in the square outside St Paul's but the platform was eventually dismantled. The High Court decided last week that the City of London Corporation's move to evict the camp was "lawful and justified".

 Police have moved in to remove protesters from their camp outside St Paul's Cathedral. The City of London Corporation was granted orders of possession and injunctions by the court.  The Court of Appeal's decision not to allow an appeal  meant the corporation was free to clear the site.

George Barda, one of the five protesters who appealed against the High Court's decision, said he had "mixed emotions". But he said: "It's not the beginning of the end, it's the end of the beginning."
"My personal concern is that we don't allow the drama of this event to eclipse the huge and important issues that we in this country and billions across the world are increasingly facing. And I have no doubt that as the economic situation gets worse in the coming years, more and more people will be joining this movement."

Following the eviction, Occupy London protesters moved to Salvation Army offices by Millennium Bridge, but City of London Police officers moved them on. Some of the protesters moved to a disused building in Featherstone Street, Islington, which Occupy protesters had called the School of Ideas. However, the protesters were evicted and the building was being bulldozed on Tuesday morning.

Other protesters moved to Finsbury Square, Islington, where a separate Occupy camp has been set up for a number of months. The City of London Corporation said in a statement: "The City of London Corporation has begun to enforce the High Court orders for the removal of the tents and equipment outside St Paul's. "We regret that it has come to this but the High Court Judgment speaks for itself and the Court of Appeal has confirmed that judgment.

Occupy protester George Barda believes the group will continue to grow

"High Court enforcement officers employed by the City of London Corporation are undertaking the removal with the police present to ensure public safety and maintain order. "We would ask protesters to move on peaceably".

"The City of London Corporation is ensuring vulnerable people are being helped and supported to find appropriate accommodation in partnership with Broadway, a charity for the homeless." A statement from City of London Police said: "At 12.10 tonight, bailiffs employed by the City of London Corporation began enforcing a High Court order for the removal of tents and equipment outside St Paul's Cathedral. Officers from the City of London Police supported by Metropolitan Police are present to ensure public safety, maintain order and facilitate lawful protest."