Migrants in camp on billionaires' row finally evicted after pooing in street

Migrants who set up camp in one of London's richest and poshest neighbourhoods have been evicted following an Express investigation. Some 30 people took up residence in the makeshift tent village next to one of the most exclusive areas in the UK several weeks ago.

At the camp in London's famous Park Lane, some of the migrants were seen drinking vodka at 6am and defecating in public, as previously reported by the Express. On Thursday, June 26, people were finally evicted from the illegal shanty town with bailiffs arriving at around 5am to move those living at the camp on. Transport for London (TfL) was granted a possession order to remove the camp, on a central reservation, in May.

TfL said it had been "left with no option but to take further enforcement action" to gain possession of the site, while a Westminster City Council spokesperson told the Express that those displaced have been pointed to the "appropriate services".

The camp was on a small green, opposite the Hitlon Hotel and yards from Hyde Park, in an area known as "Billionaire's Row".

Express reporter Jon King visited the camp on Tuesday and when he asked inhabitants why they were still there, one woman said she had been sleeping on the streets and was waiting for a home after spending a month at the camp. She then told the Express to "F*** off".

The Express saw some of the camp's inhabitants gambling with money, then swiftly hiding their game and stashing the cash out of sight as Met Police officers arrived. One officer told the publication they were there to do "welfare checks" because of the hot weather before the police got back into a van and drove off.

Around 30 people - mainly eastern European migrants - were believed to have been living at the camp.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp visited the tented village on Park Lane and raised concerns the Government is going to water down police powers to clear out illegal migrant camps.

Speaking to the Express, he said: "What concerns me, is the Government are about to change the law - they're about to repeal legislation that gives the police powers to move people on, and the Government, Angela Rayner is going to repeal that legislation imminently without putting in any replacement legislation."

TfL took enforcement action to regain possession of the site twice last year, but people returned with tents and other belongings.

Paul Fisher, one of the West End's two local councillors, previously told the Express it was a "stain" on the city's reputation and an "embarrassment" to the capital that TfL, the Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan, and Westminster had yet to remove the illegal camp.

A TfL spokesperson told the Express: "No one should be faced with sleeping rough on London's streets. Park Lane is a busy part of the road network that is not a safe place for people to sleep rough and our focus has always been on the safety and welfare of everyone involved.

"We had to take enforcement action to regain possession of the site on two occasions last year, however, a number of people have returned with tents and other belongings.

"In order to ensure the safety and wellbeing of everyone involved we were granted a possession order at the Central London County Court in May. Outreach efforts have been continuing, but the encampment has remained in place, meaning we have been left with no option but to take further enforcement action to gain possession of the site.

"There is no safe option for rough sleepers to remain at the site and we will continue to work with our partners to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of everyone involved."

A Westminster City Council spokesperson added: "We're pleased that TfL has been able to clear the latest encampment on Park Lane.

"Council officers were on hand to support - removing waste and pointing those displaced to appropriate services.

"We've always said that the central reservation of Park Lane is not a safe place for anybody to live and the anti-social behaviour associated with this encampment was unacceptable.

"This is the third such clearance in the last 12 month and we share local people's impatience for a long term solution to the persistent issues at this site. TFL have committed to working with us to achieve this."