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Police target Bedminster squat
Police riot vans moved from the Old City to Bedminster on Friday as two squats were raided on the same morning.
After more than 100 officers targeted buildings on High Street only to find nobody home, they then travelled south of the river where there was a protracted stand-off on a roof.
Around half a dozen squatters took to the roof of the former Salvation Army building – photo: Rob Browne
Unlike the pre-7am raid, this time it was not an eviction; those still living within the former Salvation Army building on Dean Lane still have that threat hanging over them.
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Instead, police arrested three people at the squat during the operation which ended peacefully at around 12.30pm.
A man living at the squat told the small crowd gathered that “everyone is safe inside. Nobody’s been beaten. They (the police) have been really cool with us, for a change.”
Police remove a woman from the building – photo: Rob Browne
The people arrested at the squat were a 40-year-old man on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker and escaping lawful custody; a 26-year-old man on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker and escaping lawful custody; and a woman on suspicion of affray.
Chief inspector Rob Cheeseman said: “We took decisive action this morning to apprehend those suspected of criminal activity connected with the unlawful occupation of buildings in Bristol city centre.
“After enforcing the closure order at High Street, we became aware that wanted individuals had relocated to an address on Dean Lane in Bedminster.
“While every effort was made to engage with the suspects and encourage them to come forward voluntarily, it was ultimately necessary to use our powers to enter the property to carry out a further arrest.
“I’d like to stress that this was not an operation to evict the occupants of the building, as we did not hold the necessary powers to do so.”
Police at the side of the building on Dean Lane – photo: Rob Browne
Main photo: Rob Browne
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