Occupy Sheffield protesters surrender to legal threat from cathedral

Occupy Sheffield has been based in a tent village outside the cathedral in the centre of the city since November last year.

The cathedral launched legal action last month to move the group from the paved area in front in the building, which is right in the centre of the city.

Now Occupy Sheffield protesters have decided to move off the site and spent the weekend dismantling their camp.

In a statement, they said: “The snow has been fun, but the threat of over £100,000 of High Court costs and the Cathedral’s answer to peaceful, public protest as eviction has made the decision easier.

“Our stand against excessive greed and corruption of our democracy continues.

“Since November 5 thousands of people have come to show their support for the camp in many ways.

“Thank you Sheffield. Occupy is a global movement, manifesting itself in the heart of this city with an occupied space that has been a mission for fairness, a sentry point for justice and an outpost for compassion.

“But we are more than the sum of our parts; more than tents and sleeping bags. We will continue this process with events, and build on discussions with peaceful direct action.”

Much of Occupy Sheffield’s activities will now be based at a derelict building in a different part of the city centre which was a Salvation Army Citadel until the 1990s, the group said.