News / Crime
Police close probation office squat
Police asked squatters to vacate the abandoned probation office near Stokes Croft after reports of anti-social behaviour, a number of stabbings and an attempted murder.
About 50-60 people have been occupying the four-storey office block on Wilder Street where police have taken out a closure order.
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The force, which closed site without any trouble on Wednesday, said it was working with nearby Brunswick Square drugs service Bristol Drugs Project and homelessness charity St Mungo’s to help relocate squatters.
Some of the squatters are thought to have attempted to set up a long-term and stable home in the building, before a small number began to cause trouble.
One squatter, who did t want to give his name, told Bristol24/7 from within the building on Wednesday morning: “They caused trouble attacking people, other stood by and let people be attacked so what do they expect? This is what happens when you cause trouble and do nothing to help.”
The building’s owner, who police say has not been “pro-active”, lives in France. The force said it plans to claim about £8,000 in compensation for the closure order costs.
Don, who has been at the squat since it opened, said: “The first group of squatters were really nice – hippies,. lots of parties, no trouble. But then another group came in who caused trouble and now I’ve got nowhere else to go.
“It’s been really scary living there but it’s better than the streets.”