Council Defends Removing St Peter’s Square Tents Occupied by Homeless

Manchester council got a court order. The order let them take back land. It happened earlier this month. Homeless people had lived there. Their camp was in St Peter’s Square.

The council made a new statement after tents got removed this morning. Many people were sleeping there.

Council staff removed many tents starting at 6:45 AM on February 26th. The court gave them permission earlier this month. Most residents were refugees. Staff gave bags for belongings and bailiffs told them to leave. Some tents went into a bin lorry. The council said they were empty after the operation ended.

The court order instructed people to leave the square, and the council carried it out today. This ends the camp’s presence of several months where refugees lived who have the right to stay.

The council helped homeless people, offering housing to some and prioritizing vulnerable ones. Others got advice, support, and a housing plan. People could pack their tents and take them away. Abandoned tents were thrown away.
Help exists for homeless people and the council works with support groups. The camp was not safe or sanitary. It didn’t help with support access or speed up applications.

The council kept the area safe, but this became difficult prior to events. The tents impacted town hall services, hindering alarms and evacuations.

The council is glad this is resolved as help exists through regular channels. The order applied only to the square, addressing specific issues there. Encampments are not good anywhere, and they don’t help people get support.

The council will talk to tent residents and watch the situation. The camp started last spring as a protest, then housed homeless people. The council moved it for events. It was a fixture until Wednesday.