Police were called to a University of Manchester campus building being occupied by a group of around 30 students protesting against rent charges over the weekend.
The 'UoM Rent Strike 2023' group claimed university security staff made 'false allegations' they had been assaulted. The university, however, said a 'group of masked protestors rushed an entrance to gain access to the building' and also reported injuries had been caused to campus 'support and security colleagues' during separate incidents over the weekend.
Photographs released by the group show Greater Manchester Police vans and cars parked up outside the Simon Building on Brunswick Street in Manchester on Sunday night (February 19). Protesting students have occupied a number of campus buildings and are calling for university bosses to meet their demands, which include a 30 per cent rent reduction, affordable housing and cost of living support.
Around 150 students have already pledged to withhold their rent, collectively worth approximately £200,000, according to the group. It's understood that after protests inside other buildings, the 'main occupation' has now moved to the Simon Building, which features classrooms, seminar rooms and tiered lecture theatres.
The protest group said a delivery of food and supplies had been due on Sunday evening, but at the same time one of the students inside said they wanted to leave. The student, they claimed, was prevented from leaving by security staff, prompting those making the delivery to attempt to enter the building because they had concerns for the student's welfare.
In a statement posted on social media, the UoM Rent Strike 2023 said: "On Sunday a large food and supplies delivery was set to be handed over to the Simon building occupiers.
"At the same time, one of the occupiers wished to leave the building. UoM security then proceeded to deny exit to the occupier, and due to concerns for the occupier's safety, those delivering supplies countered by attempting entry into the building. After a successful entry, UoM security called Greater Manchester Police, falsely alleging that they were assaulted by the students.
"We believe security lied to the police, prompting a disproportionate number of officers being dispatched - six vans and cars. Upon their arrival, police refused to support security after assessing the situation.
"We condemn this response by the University of Manchester; they are more willing to call police on their students than to consider our demands for affordable housing and cost of living support. We urge the university to present us an offer, not threaten us with arbitrary punishment and legal action."
One student involved said: "GMP remained in the vicinity of the occupied building until 11pm, at which point all officers left with no further escalation. The occupiers have no plans to leave the building until the university meets their demands for a rent rebate, rent freezes at affordable levels and a £1,500 cost of living payment to all students."
They said they also wanted the university to meet the demands of striking members of the University and College Union.
A spokesperson for the University of Manchester said: "Around 30 people are continuing to occupy a small part of the Simon Building having gained unauthorised access last week and been asked to leave.
"While we are continuing to monitor the area on the third floor that is illegally occupied, the remainder of the Simon Building is open today as it was last week, with a visible presence from our campus support and security colleagues. This will allow the building to operate as near normal as possible with students continuing to receive the teaching they deserve and invaluable research able to go on.
"Unfortunately, a number of our campus support and security colleagues have received injuries over the weekend, including in an incident last night where a group of masked protestors rushed an entrance to gain access to the building. We wholeheartedly condemn this behaviour and the harm done to staff. The police were called and we are helping them with their investigations.
"We will of course monitor the situation in the building carefully."
A GMP spokesperson also confirmed officers attended following a report 'of a disturbance'. It's understood that after the main police presence left, two officers remained on-site until 4am 'as a precaution'.
"At approximately 8:20pm on 19 February 2023, officers were called to reports of a disturbance on Oxford Road in Manchester. Officers attended after reports that one person had been assaulted," an official statement said. "No serious injuries were reported and no arrests were made."
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