We need as many people in the building at to ensure the security of the social centre against the bailiffs. Please circulate this widely and let as many people as possible know.
Property owner of 139–141 Church street Richard Midda was granted a possession order by Shoreditch county court on wednesday 24th Jan. The next stage legally is for the courts to issue a bailiffs warrant to court appointed bailiffs who will carry out the eviction on a pre-arranged date. This date we should know about in advance. Only court appointed bailiffs have the right to carry out an eviction.
Immediately after the court hearing on wednesday Midda, along with his own hired private bailiffs came round to the social centre (where the parent/baby group were meeting) threatening people while demanding he now had the right to the building any everyone must leave. He, nor his hired goons, have a legal right to repossess the building.
This morning (thursday 25th) he stuck a notice on the door saying his private bailiffs company (used primarily to harass tenants for rent) will be returning at 9am on friday morning to ensure we vacate the premises. He has no legal right to do this.
Not only then is this an unlawful eviction any attempt by him to gain access, or attempt to forcibly remove people from the premises, will be a criminal offence.
We need as many people as possible in, at, and around the social centre to prevent him gaining access (this is still our social centre!) and that any activity he engages in will be documented by us.
Be at the social centre at 8.30am. bring cameras, camcorders, your friends. The more of us there are the stronger we are.
occupiedsocialcentre@hushmail.com
http://www.londonsocialcentre.org.uk