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Protesters move from Sun Street base of past 10 weeks to former Rafidain Bank building in Leadenhall Street
The Occupy movement in London has had yet another change of location after activists moved out of the disused office block they have used as an educational base for the past 10 weeks and straight into another property.
The Bank of Ideas – an offshoot of the original London camp next to St Paul's cathedral set up to protest at the perceived excesses of the global finance system – was based in a huge building in Sun Street, in the City. The block is owned by the banking giant UBS but has not been used for several years.
Occupy activists squatted the building and established rooms for lectures, delivered by academics and others, and a sophisticated IT hub for the campaign.
UBS won a legal case against the group, which could have been removed forcibly at any time from this weekend.
Naomi Colvin, from Occupy, said rather than tie up scarce legal resources with an appeal, the bulk of activists moved out of Sun Street earlier this week, leaving a small group to clean the building.
Everyone has now moved to another vacant office block in Leadenhall Street, in the heart of the financial district and adjacent to the Lloyd's building. The Leadenhall Street building was home to the UK arm of Iraq's Rafidain Bank, which went into liquidation in 2008.
"We're hoping that the police will recognise our legal rights and leave us in place," Colvin said. "If that happens, the hope is to reopen the Bank of Ideas at Leadenhall Street."
On Wednesday, Occupy briefly took over another nearby building, a former Midland Bank at St Alphage Highwalk, but protesters were removed by police almost immediately.
Under the 1977 Criminal Law Act, squatters have protected rights to occupy a building if no damage has been caused during entry. Police told activists on Wednesday they were investigating the theft of a padlock – something Occupy disputes.
As well as the St Paul's camp, which has been in place for just over 100 days, Occupy also has an outdoor encampment at Finsbury Square, on the edge of the City, which it plans to turn into a model eco community.
It is also based at the former Old Street magistrates court, slightly further north – a grade II-listed Edwardian courts and police complex that has been empty for many years.
After losing a high court battle against the Corporation of London last week, the St Paul's camp also faces imminent eviction, which could begin early next week.
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