Shergroup’s
enforcement and security divisions were on hand in March
to evict nine of the 10 squatters occupying a site for
a planned Tesco Express store in Bristol.
Police arrested four people for public order offences
as Shergroup’s enforcement officers, acting
under a High Court Writ, took possession of the former
Jesters comedy club in Stokes Croft, Bristol.
One man was found on the flat roof of the property
with his arm encased in a barrel of concrete –
which is a well-known protestor tactic to delay the
eviction protest.
When confronted with such situations, Shergroup officers
have to bring in specialist equipment to drill out
the limb from the concrete casing, whilst ensuring
the protestor is protected to the highest standards
of health and safety legislation.
Chief Executive Officer, Claire Sandbrook, explains,
"Shergroup has the most comprehensive health
and safety policy, in terms of its national eviction
team, in the UK today. The policy is built on years
of experience in handling the toughest eviction sites,
where protestors are determined to put their lives
and those working on the sites in serious jeopardy
of injury or even death. Working with police officers
and other strategic partners, we have the experience
and expertise to anticipate the risks and to deploy
manpower and equipment to ensure the eviction process
is carried out to the highest possible safety standards."
Over seventy police officers were at the scene in
Bristol as the eviction when ahead, and a crowd of
protestors cheered the squatters on from the street.
One man, who was apparently stuck by superglue to
a large metal tripod, was removed by Shergroup’s
enforcement officers during the afternoon.
The protest was aimed at preventing the development,
which critics said would lead to the loss of local
character in the area along with the usual fear of
local trade being upset by the arrival of the supermarket
giant. As ever, Shergroup simply followed its instruction
from the High Court, which was to deliver possession
back to Tesco as safely and as speedily as possible.
The squatters were given an opportunity to leave before
the eviction began, and Shergroup worked with the
local police to remove those who refused to go quietly.
