CALL OUT: Resist the bailiffs at Justice Not Crisis squat

Justice Not Crisis is set to lose their latest five squats; the houses on Pershore Road and, more importantly, the Beechwood Hotel, Birmingham; 22 rooms that could be housing 22 of Birmingham's thousands of homeless. We need all the help we can to resist the eviction tomorrow.

At 0900 hours on Tuesday 21st April 2009 bailiffs will attempt to evict members of Justice Not Crisis from 310, 312, 314 and 318 Pershore Road, followed immediately after at 11AM, an attempted eviction at the Beechwood Hotel, Bristol Road.

We intend to resist evictions at all five properties and will stage a roof-top demonstration at the Beechwood Hotel. We require as much support and assistance as possible, and a briefing will take place at the Beechwood Hotel at 0800 hours on Tuesday 21st April. Press and media have already indicated they will be attending the Beechwood to cover our resistance of the bailiffs' eviction.

Anyone wishing to join us this evening/night for our barbecue and drink is welcome. Rooms will be available for anybody wishing to stay. Further information can be obtained on 07874180014

Updates to the days events will appear on our website throughout the day Tuesday 21st April.

JNC
e-mail: justice.not.crisis@googlemail.com
Homepage: http://www.justicenotcrisis.com

Comments

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hmmm

20.04.2009 19:17

I find it hard to believe you managed to legally squat in 4 properties in such close proximity to each other. How did it happen? They ALL just happened to have damaged back doors?

ted

Baillifs!

20.04.2009 19:23

R they same bailliffs that Optima use to evict people?

JNC is lead by Optima and on there site they say they have a magistrate and a cop as supporters.

inna high rize

Bailiffs

21.04.2009 00:14

If the "owners" got possession orders in the County Court, the only bailiffs allowed to evict are County Court bailiffs. If they got possession orders in the High Court, the eviction is carried out by the Deputy Under-Sheriff for the county, who uses hired thugs to assist. Formerly called "Sheriff's officers", these are now officially called "enforcement officers". The Deputy Under-Sheriff will usually stick to hiring the muscle from one or two regular firms.

There is a different breed of bailiff which should not be confused with the above. Private bailiffs, otherwise known as "certificated bailiffs" and sometimes now also called "enforcement officers". They are basically debt-collectors. They have no power to carry out evictions whatsoever -unless they happen to be hired by the Deputy Under-Sherriff to enforce a High Court possession order.

High Court possession orders are very rare. "Owners" are allowed to use the High Court only in very limited exceptional circumstances. Doesn't sound like they applied here.

Stroppyoldgit

For ted

21.04.2009 00:33

Yes, I agree. Very suspicious, isn't it? Against the natural order of things, I'd say. Obviously, these houses should be left to rot, shouldn't they?

What we want to see is:

The roofs leaking through neglect, so all the ceilings are brought down and the floors rot.

Loads of pigeons roosting there until the shit is 2 feet deep.

The guttering falling apart, causing penetrating dampness and damaging adjoining houses.

Local kids breaking in, trashing the places, and maybe injuring themselves in the process.

Totters stripping out all the wiring and piping to flog it -and any nice fireplaces or fittings they find.

Crack or scag dealers using the houses to stash stuff or do business from.

Then we can all sleep soundly in our beds, safe from those marauding, dirty SQUATTERS. I mean, these trouble-makers have the cheek to make houses wind and weatherproof, fix them up and LIVE in them! Whatever next? If this nuisance isn't stopped we could run out of homeless people to look down on and patronise if so inclined.

Stroppyoldgit

sucess! (for now)

21.04.2009 14:32

http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2009/04/21/edgbaston-squatter-launches-rooftop-protest-97319-23435815/

ether
Homepage: http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2009/04/21/edgbaston-squatter-launches-rooftop-protest-97319-23435815/

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bailiffs correction

21.04.2009 14:48

A possession order granted in a County Court CAN be enforced by either the County Court bailiffs or the High Court Enforcement Officers.

The other private bailiffs like Optima try it on without a possession order on the grounds of "self-help" but this is only allowed if they would not be using force against people or property, in which case they would breaking the law according to s6 Criminal Law Act 1977

Myk

Well done..........

21.04.2009 17:58

.....and good luck for the future

Fat bhoy Finn

Ooops!

22.04.2009 21:41

Bit missed out in my comment about bailiffs (above). Blame late hour of posting.

A County Court possession order can nowadays be enforced by applying to the High Court for a Writ of Possession. Then you get the Deputy Under-Sheriff and his hired thugs just the same as if the possession order had been in the High Court in the first place. Not done very often, but more likely in the case of a resisted eviction or a place perceived to be a political squat. Reason is High Court enforcement officers have more powers than County Court bailiffs. They can get the cops to help them, whereas County Court bailiffs can't. If cops are present at a County Court eviction,it's supposed to be just to "keep the peace", not help with the eviction. Yeeees.....you may have seen cops errr..."not helping" with a County Court eviction.

Stroppyoldgit

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