Police called in as University of Manchester students occupy campus building

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.

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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