Dramatic moment police smashed their way into Brixton squat: Inside the £5m mansion block where 75 squatters had lived rent-free for 32 YEARS

A road in central Brixton was trashed as angry squatters were evicted

Other residents were terrified as bins were torched and bailiffs assaulted

Many of the squatters had enjoyed rent-free living for at least 13 years



For 13 years, squatters occupied six Victorian mansion blocks in a prime London location rent-free, letting them go to wrack and ruin.

But yesterday a two-year battle to evict them came to a head in an early morning raid that saw violent clashes with bailiffs and police.

Squatters and protesters supporting their cause set bins on fire and hurled yellow paint at policemen brought in to oversee the operation.

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Rage: There were angry scenes as the bailiffs moved in. Some of the squatters have lived in the two properties for at least 13 years

An officer and a man argue as the occupants are evicted from the two squats in central Brixton Fury: There were scuffles between the squatters and the bailiffs

Dilapidated: This frame from video taken inside the Rushcroft Road properties shows how residents had piled up furniture to barricade the doors in desperate a bid to hold back today's expected visit by the bailiffs

Up and coming area: Three of the properties in the terrace will be sold off to property developers

Homeless: Around 75 residents, including some children, were led out of the squats today following the raid

The protesters, who had gathered along Rushcroft Road in Brixton, south-west London, in anticipation of the raid, yelled ‘scum’ as bailiffs moved in, while a group of ten tried to resist police.

Around 75 squatters – including children – were led out of the buildings.

Police said two people had been arrested – one for criminal damage and another for affray.

Peter Piotrkowski, an evictee, claimed he was pushed to the ground by police officers as he left the building on crutches.

He added: ‘I’m going to be homeless now. I’m on benefits, £72 a week. I can’t find any place for that money and I need to keep some money for food.’



Rushcroft Road, near the centre of up-and-coming Brixton, was covered in rubbish and bins were torched as the authorities evicted around 70 occupants from six mansion blocks, many of whom have lived there rent-free for 32 years Debris is left on the streets after clashes between squatters and bailiffs in Brixton. Lambeth Council ordered the eviction after the occupants lost their appeal to stay in the buildings Ignite: A woman living in the street said bins were set alight during the confrontation A council spokesman said it is unfair that the occupants live in a desirable area rent-free

A police officer talks to man who appeared to to have his shirt torn in a scuffle

A woman who pays £1,300 a month to rent her flat on the street described the eviction as ‘terrifying’.

She added: ‘I don’t think it’s at all fair that they don’t have to pay rent. It’s a nice area.’

Following the raid, obscene graffiti could be seen daubed on one of the buildings.

One enforcement officer said that the interiors of some of the flats were in ‘quite a bad way’.

A banner outside a house on Rushcroft Road. The window on the left is daubed with the words 'Burn the Bailiffs' Trashed: The road was littered with rubbish during the eviction

Bailffs enter one of the properties on Rushcroft Road through the window

A man, believed to be one of the squatters, climbs into one of the two mansion blocks (left). A squatter with a can of lager shouts out of a window



A man is handcuffed amid angry scenes in the central Brixton street

Police officers hold a man's arms as bailiffs move into the property

An estimated 70 people live in the two properties

A bailiff looks out a door. Following the eviction of the unauthorised occupants, three of the six blocks will be sold and the money invested in the community, Lambeth Council said

Police community support officers and bailiffs wait outside the two mansion blocks

Lambeth Council said it has received no rent for the 47 flats since 2000.

Now the council plans to sell three of the blocks, which could raise £5.5million, while the remaining three will be used as social housing, creating 22 new homes for families.

Lambeth councillor Pete Robbins said: ‘We are taking this action because it is unfair on the thousands of residents in need of housing in Lambeth that a small minority are unlawfully squatting and not paying any rent or council tax.

‘We have been in regular dialogue with the occupants of the six blocks over the last two years, offering support and advice on how to find alternative accommodation.