Keeping It Discreet as We Remove Squatters in Central London

Tina Webber-Rostron, Director & Head of Enforcement Operations

For public figures, maintaining a particular image or reputation is incredibly important. Life in the public eye means that media interest is inevitable, but this can sometimes jeopardise an already difficult situation.

This was the case recently when Wilson & Roe was instructed to remove squatters from central-London premises belonging to a high-profile public figure.

Avoiding the Limelight

At the time of receiving the instruction, there was already significant interest in the case and the press were gathered at the site, which meant that we needed to ensure we worked quickly, effectively and with complete discretion.

We began by performing an undercover recce of the premises to assess the layout of the building including locating all of the entrances and exits and gauging the number of people to be evicted from the building.

By carrying out these checks and obtaining more background information, we are mitigating the risk of something unexpected happening on the day. We use this knowledge to decide how many agents will attend, whether we need additional resources, and when to carry out the eviction.

In this case, we made the decision to carry out the eviction in the early morning to minimise disruption. The number of passers-by in the early hours is usually much smaller, which helps us to prevent potential obstacles and ensure the safe removal of the occupants.

On the day, a full team of agents attended the site and successfully removed the squatters. We arranged for a locksmith to be present in order to secure the building and a security team to remain on site to prevent the squatters from re-entering the property.

A Tailored Solution

This case was reported in the media due to the owner of the property – which is something we are unable to control – but Wilson & Roe carried out the eviction with maximum efficiency and as peacefully as possible resulting in a happy client.  

At Wilson & Roe, we treat all of our cases with the utmost discretion. There isn’t a ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution for enforcement, so we thoroughly assess every job to work out how we can achieve a successful outcome while protecting the integrity of our clients.

If you are looking for professional and ethical enforcement services, please contact Tina by email at tina.webber-rostron@wilsonandroe.com or by telephone on 0161 925 800.