PROTESTERS FACE EVICTION HEARING

This article is published in today's Leicester Mercury:

Protesters face eviction hearing

Members of the Occupy Leicester movement were today facing action in court to remove them from an office in the city.

The Mercury reported on Tuesday how the protesters had moved from their camp near the Clock Tower and entered a disused first-floor office in High Street, owned by Safe Computing.

Safe Computing is seeking repossession of the office and a hearing was due to be held at the County Court this morning.

Safe Computing employs 80 people at its adjacent offices on Freeschool Lane, and acquired the occupied building in October with the intention of developing it in the near future.

The company says the occupied offices form part of the building's fire exit.

Managing director Sandy Scott said: "From a health and safety point of view we had no alternative but to seek repossession of the building.

"It was a bit of a shock when they moved in but their intentions were not malicious.

"We've followed the course of the law, taken advice from the police and solicitors, and left them in peace.

"I just hope they can go home and spend Christmas with their families."

Anthony Farrow, from the group, said: "We have spoken to the landlord, there's no tension between us and we are complying with the law."