Leeds Community Project Statement of the 3rd March 2015

Forced gate

Forced gate

Security Staff on site

Security Staff on site

Security Staff on site

Security Staff on site

After the unlawful eviction on 19th February and the release without charge of the three members who were arrested, our legal working group has been in touch with external legal advisers to explore our options, and is now working on taking legal actions against the University.

We are certain that the University Security Staff committed an offence by violently breaking entry to the site. The Security Staff forced the front gate open, breaking the wood that LCP had been using to secure the door (see photo). This violated section 6 of the Criminal Law Act 1977 which makes it a criminal offence to secure entry to a property by force when someone is present who is opposed to that entry.

The LCP members present made it extremely clear that the security was not welcome. However, the security disregarded the law and continued to intimidate us. The police was then called by LCP members to remove the University Security Staff. The security, uncomfortable in their legal position on site, left and intercepted the police. Despite being called to investigate the criminal offence, the police arrested three members on suspicion of stealing electricity. All of them were released on the same day without charge after we provided evidence of our electricity account. We strongly reject the police’s failure to defend the rights of LCP by allying with the University Security Staff, to remove the three LCP members on site through arrest and then regain possession themselves.

Given these circumstances and the gathered evidence, we are confident in putting together a strong case against both the University and the Police in the near future.

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