This article is published in today's Leicester Mercury:
Clear-up begins after protesters move out
The eviction order was made by Judge Alison Hampton who granted possession of the premises above the former Litten Tree pub, in High Street, in the city centre, to leaseholders Safe Computing Ltd.
The future of the Occupy Leicester protest could be decided at a meeting to be held on Monday.
Sandy Scott, managing director of Safe Computing Ltd, applied for the eviction order last Friday saying that the Occupy Leicester group "had no permission to be in the offices".
Occupy Leicester did not oppose the order which said they should be allowed to take their property and vowed they would comply with it.Mr Scott said the protesters left the offices on Christmas Eve within a 24 hour deadline of being served with the court notice to quit.
However, he said: "They left me a note apologising. It said: 'Sorry things got out of hand last night'.
He added: "There are tents, a dozen sleeping bags, toasters, bikes and other possessions which have been left behind. It will have to be tidied up before we can use the offices."
Under the terms of the court order, Safe Computing Ltd, which has now secured the property, must allow members of the group access to reclaim their property.
About 15 members of the group had moved in to the premises via an unlocked door two weeks ago.
Previously they had been camping in tents set up further along High Street but had moved indoors to avoid the cold and had hoped to hold seminars in the building.
Following the hearing, group spokesman Anthony Farrow, 22, an animation and design student at De Montfort University said Occupy Leicester would obey the court order.
But he said the outdoor protest would resume and continue into the New Year.
He added: "We do not apologise for what we did. The building was unlocked and we caused no damage."
The outdoor camp has not re-appeared since the eviction and a meeting is planned at the Clock Tower at 2pm on Monday.
Occupy Leicester supporter Faizah Horreyah posted a message on Facebook saying the meeting would discuss the group's future and "other things". Mr Farrow was unavailable to comment.
This article is published in today's Leicester Mercury:
Protesters leave their city centre base
Protesters from the Occupy Leicester campaign have left the city centre after being evicted from the empty offices they had made their base.
Three members of the group remained at offices above The disused Litten Tree pub, in High Street, when a legal order requiring them to quit the property came into force at midday on Saturday.
They moved in there a week ago having spent five weeks in a tent encampment in High Street protesting against alleged Government corruption and greed. Spud Cabon, 18, from Leicester, said: "We're a bit disappointed because this feels like a defeat and that is not in our nature, but we do intend to come back early in the new year."
The lease to the office is held by Safe Computing Ltd, who applied for the court order.
Safe Computing managing director Sandy Scott said: "There are no hard feelings. I was in the Orange Tree, taking my staff for a drink, and I recognised a couple of them from the court case so I offered to buy them a pint which, eventually they accepted."
This Op-Ed piece is published in today's Leicester Mercury:
Protesters need to get point across
It is time for the Occupy movement in Leicester to do more to get their message across or just pack up and go home. Most people don't really know what they are doing and are unlikely to bother asking.
Rather people will view them as a blot on the city's landscape.
We believe, however, that they have chosen a noble cause to pursue and, as long as they operate within the boundaries of the law, we accept that they are fighting the good fight.
The concern we have is that the activists who make up Occupy Leicester, Wall Street, Berlin, Zurich, or wherever are not getting a clear message across.
This appears to be the perception of many people.
So far, the occupation has not been successful in influencing banks to consider handing over their profits and share them out. It has also not caused much concern for politicians.
We are aware that the Occupy movement is an ongoing peaceful protest and a demonstration against economic inequality, a lack of affordability of housing, social injustice, corporate greed and the influence of companies but we fear it is going nowhere.
Our story today says that Occupy Leicester has now moved above the Litten Tree pub, in High Street.
The group will now be less visible than they were before, however the group say they'll be warmer and be able to conduct their campaign better from the office space.
We hope that they can start to get their message across, as the current apathy towards what the Occupy Movement is doing is getting it nowhere.
This article is published in today's Leicester Mercury:
Occupy Leicester protesters move into an empty office for winter
Protesters from the Occupy Leicester movement have taken their struggle against government corruption, corporate greed and the winter weather indoors.
The campaigners, who have been based outside the entrance to the Highcross shopping centre, on High Street, for the past five weeks, had been discussing a "new tactic" which would allow them to expand their numbers during the bitter midwinter temperatures.
On Saturday, they entered an unlocked, disused office above the former Litten Tree pub, also on High Street, and have remained there since.
Spokesman Anthony Farrow said they occupied the building legally and police, who visited the building on Sunday morning, were satisfied their entry was above board.
Anthony, 22, an animation and design student at De Montfort University, said: "We've taken an old, out-of-use office block. The door was left open so we haven't forced entry and we were able to claim the building lawfully."
Anthony, who works two jobs as well as spending most nights at the camp, says the move to a warmer base will allow more people to become regularly involved.
He also hopes the new base will allow the group to host debates and public meetings.
They will still maintain a presence outdoors by erecting a stall on the street outside the building.
He said: "We were concerned about people's health and this allows more people to get involved in the Christmas period. We plan to stay until the spring, then we'll move back out when it gets warm again."
Kieran Murray, 18, said: "It's quite a good move because the London occupiers did the same thing. We've done it with a corporate building, so it's targeting the things we're aiming at."
Kieran, a call centre manager from Nottingham, had originally been based with the Occupy movement there, but moved to the Leicester camp soon after it set up.
However, he was forced to return home for a fortnight after contracting pneumonia.
He said: "It got to the stage where I had to go home to rest and recuperate. I've managed to keep on top of (my work) from the camp.
"A lot of staff at the call centre are really supportive and think it's a brilliant thing, but I've not heard too much from my boss."
The building is owned by Safe Computing Ltd, a software and outsourcing provider based on nearby Freeschool Lane. The company declined to comment yesterday.
James Coningsby, head of commercial property at Nelsons Solicitors, on New Walk, Leicester, says the protestors would have no right to remain squatting in the building should the owner decide to take action, and would have to leave within two days if served with a notice to do so.
He said: "The fact of the matter is they haven't committed a criminal act, but in terms of a defence they don't have one in my view.
"I think it's quite rare for commercial property to be occupied in this way, but there are occasions when this does happen."
A police spokesperson said any dispute over the occupation which may arise would be a civil matter between the owner and the protesters.
