London Riot Police Evict Homeless from Former Convent, Sparking Outrage

The building, on Hardinge Street in Shadwell, had been taken over by a group called Autonomous Winter Shelter, who had been providing shelter to around 40 homeless people since November 2022.

According to activist Alex, who has been living in the "peaceful community" since last November, the police activity was "crazy".

He said, "We have over 40 people in here but a lot of people ran away when they saw the riot squad.

It's probably one of the most expensive attempted evictions I have ever seen." Police arrived and served an eviction notice to the group, claiming it was a criminal offense to occupy the former convent.

The Autonomous Winter Shelter had taken in survivors from a fatal Shadwell fire that broke out in a flat in early March.

The council had provided temporary accommodation provision, but this is believed to have ended.

Tower Hamlets mayor Lutfur Rahman had written to police, endorsing an email from the Advisory Service For Squatters (ASS) that stated, "In the circumstances, police intervention would clearly be inappropriate and we would suggest unlawful." However, police officers handed the group a Section 144 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment Offenders Act 2012, which makes it illegal to squat in a residential building.

Scotland Yard has been approached for comment, and the Evening Standard has approached the owners of the building for comment.