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St Paul's protest: Corporation to resume legal action over camp | St Paul's protest: Corporation to resume legal action over camp |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Legal action to clear the protest camp outside St Paul's Cathedral will resume after talks between the City of London Corporation and activists broke down. | Legal action to clear the protest camp outside St Paul's Cathedral will resume after talks between the City of London Corporation and activists broke down. |
Members of the Occupy London Stock Exchange (OLSX) group have been outside the cathedral since 15 October. | Members of the Occupy London Stock Exchange (OLSX) group have been outside the cathedral since 15 October. |
The camp will be handed a legal notice on Wednesday, the corporation said. | The camp will be handed a legal notice on Wednesday, the corporation said. |
"We are disappointed that the City of London Corporation has decided to cut off the process of dialogue at their end," an OLSX spokesman said. | "We are disappointed that the City of London Corporation has decided to cut off the process of dialogue at their end," an OLSX spokesman said. |
The protest aims to raise the issues of inequality and corporate greed. | |
Earlier this month, the corporation dropped its planned legal action giving protesters until the New Year to leave. | |
However, the corporation's planning and transportation committee has now voted to resume the legal action and lawyers representing protesters at the camp have been informed. | However, the corporation's planning and transportation committee has now voted to resume the legal action and lawyers representing protesters at the camp have been informed. |
'Increasing mess' | 'Increasing mess' |
"We paused legal action for two weeks for talks with those in the camp on how to shrink the extent of the tents and to set a departure date - but got nowhere," said Stuart Fraser, policy chairman of the corporation. | "We paused legal action for two weeks for talks with those in the camp on how to shrink the extent of the tents and to set a departure date - but got nowhere," said Stuart Fraser, policy chairman of the corporation. |
"So, sadly, now they have rejected a reasonable offer to let them stay until the New Year, it's got to be the courts. | "So, sadly, now they have rejected a reasonable offer to let them stay until the New Year, it's got to be the courts. |
"We'd still like to sort this without court action but from now on we will have to have any talks in parallel with court action - not instead." | "We'd still like to sort this without court action but from now on we will have to have any talks in parallel with court action - not instead." |
The corporation said it also received complaints about "late-night drinking and other worrying trends, so it's time to act". | The corporation said it also received complaints about "late-night drinking and other worrying trends, so it's time to act". |
"Lawful protesters who stand or walk are a regular part of London," said Mr Fraser. | "Lawful protesters who stand or walk are a regular part of London," said Mr Fraser. |
"But tents, equipment and now, increasingly, quite a lot of mess, is not what a highway is for and others are losing out." | "But tents, equipment and now, increasingly, quite a lot of mess, is not what a highway is for and others are losing out." |
Protesters are to be told they will have 24 hours to clear their tents and equipment after they are handed the legal notice on Wednesday. | Protesters are to be told they will have 24 hours to clear their tents and equipment after they are handed the legal notice on Wednesday. |
The corporation said it would then approach the High Court to seek an order to evict the camp, if the protesters remain after the notice period. | |
If it is granted the court order, committee members will meet to take a decision on enforcement action, but reaching this stage could take weeks. | |
Protester Ronan McNern said: "Our beautiful camp has been a space for dialogue on these important issues. | Protester Ronan McNern said: "Our beautiful camp has been a space for dialogue on these important issues. |
"Now the City of London is trying to stop that dialogue from taking place." | "Now the City of London is trying to stop that dialogue from taking place." |
On Monday night, seven people were charged with a number of offences following a protest at the Lord Mayor's Banquet. | On Monday night, seven people were charged with a number of offences following a protest at the Lord Mayor's Banquet. |
About 30 protesters from OLSX gathered outside London's Guildhall where the new Lord Mayor of the City of London, David Wootton, held the annual event. | About 30 protesters from OLSX gathered outside London's Guildhall where the new Lord Mayor of the City of London, David Wootton, held the annual event. |
Police said five people were charged with breaching the Public Order Act, one man was charged with indecent behaviour at a police station and another man was accused of assaulting a police officer. | Police said five people were charged with breaching the Public Order Act, one man was charged with indecent behaviour at a police station and another man was accused of assaulting a police officer. |
Embassy protest | Embassy protest |
All seven were bailed and will appear at City of London Magistrates' Court on 22 November. | All seven were bailed and will appear at City of London Magistrates' Court on 22 November. |
A small group of activists from OLSX gathered outside the US Embassy, in Grosvenor Square, to show "solidarity" with campers evicted from a Wall Street protest in New York. | |
The group said in a statement: "Some politicians may physically remove us from public spaces — our spaces — and, physically, they may succeed. But we are engaged in a battle over ideas." | |
A spokeswoman for the embassy said officials met with some of the protesters to listen to their concerns about the evictions in New York. | |
A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said "appropriate policing plans were in place" outside the US Embassy. | |
Marking its one-month anniversary at the camp, OLSX said it had received £23,000 in donations from supporters. | |
The Dean of St Paul's Cathedral, along with two other senior members, resigned following the establishment of the camp. | The Dean of St Paul's Cathedral, along with two other senior members, resigned following the establishment of the camp. |