Rossendale's at it again

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From the Lancashire Evening Telegraph

 

AN EAST Lancashire firm has defended one of its bailiffs after it was alleged he drove a car into a group of ‘Occupy London’ activists.

 

Protesters evicted from a disused office block in London criticised bailiffs from Helmshore-based Rossendales for using what they claimed were ‘heavy-handed’ tactics on Sunday night.

 

But Rossendales, which was appointed by the lawyers of Sun Street Properties, the UBS-owned subsidiary that went to court to evict the activists, said the protesters had been “verbally abusive” towards its staff and the police.

 

At the start of a week that could see the eviction of the movement’s encampment outside St Paul’s Cathedral, around 50 protesters were evicted peacefully from a UBS-owned building in Sun Street.

 

Police and enforcement officers then moved to evict squatters from another building in the complex, also owned by a subsidiary of the Swiss banking group.

 

A photographer claimed he was punched in the face by a bailiff who then allegedly drove his car towards at least one person and carried another on his bonnet for 50 yards.

 

In video footage posted online a man, said to be the same bailiff, is surrounded in his car by protesters who shout at him, hit his windscreen with bottles and attempt to stop him driving away. He then moves off with a man apparently still on his bonnet.

 

A female protester claimed that she hurt her hand when the man drove in her direction.

 

Metropolitan Police said a 45-year-old man had been arrested regarding an allegation of assault and criminal damage.

 

Alan Smith, Rossendale’s high court enforcement and commercial services director, said: “As one of our officers left the premises to return to his car, a number of protesters pursued him and he was pushed and abused.

 

“Naturally he felt concerned for his safety and acted in self-defence. As he left in his car, more protesters attacked his vehicle, causing damage to it, while police officers were present.”

 

UBS declined to comment.

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Alan Smith, Rossendale’s high court enforcement and commercial services director, said: “As one of our officers left the premises to return to his car, a number of protesters pursued him and he was pushed and abused.

 

Shame. Now he no's how the people he and his co-workers chase for money feel....