Legal errors delay eviction effort at UBS
ATTEMPTS by UBS to evict protesters from its disused City offices have been delayed after the Occupy group challenged mistakes in the legal papers.
The Swiss bank will make a second effort to have the activists removed on Monday, after initially serving a notice on the group last Friday.
City A.M. understands the paperwork had not been stamped by court officials, was unsigned and did not show a claim number.
The protesters have “repossessed” the property on Sun Street, behind Liverpool Street Station, and taken over four floors, following the establishment of other camps outside St Paul’s and at Finsbury Circus.
The group has also discussed taking over the three other empty buildings in the UBS complex.
Activists said they have filed an application to set aside the UBS injunction although this is expected to be defeated on Monday, clearing the way for an eviction.
The other UBS site on the street, where Kweku Adoboli allegedly carried out rogue trades, has not been targeted by the protesters.
Activists entered the empty building in the early hours of last Friday. After a week inside they have set up closed circuit television to monitor the entrance, opened an office and are in the processing of creating their own radio station. They have also banned financial transactions of any kind in the building.
The occupiers, who number around 100 at their daily peak, have also reconnected the electricity supply and begun using gas cookers, although London Fire Brigade has not been alerted to any safety concerns.
The activists vary between idealistic men and women in their twenties and veteran middle-aged protesters who campaigned against the Newbury Bypass in 1996.
Last night UBS declined to comment beyond an earlier statement saying it is taking “appropriate action”.
A separate City of London action against the St Paul’s protesters will be heard in the High Court on 19 December.