Having successfully established control of the perimeter, the operation moved into its next phase: securing the individual commercial units and maintaining control of the site.
The intelligence gathered during the planning stage suggested that the situation could change quickly once people connected with the businesses became aware that the forfeiture had taken place.
For that reason, the team remained prepared to dynamically reassess the risks throughout the operation.
Securing the Commercial Units
With the perimeter controlled, the three specialist locksmiths began changing locks across the multiple commercial units.
External shutter controls and other relevant access points were also secured to prevent unauthorised access to the premises.
At the same time, enforcement and security personnel continued checking the site to establish whether anybody remained inside any of the units.
Unexpected Occupants Discovered
When a large shutter serving one of the commercial units was opened, three individuals were discovered quietly inside.
The Enforcement Team Leader spoke with them to establish who they were and why they were on the premises. They declined to provide identification and subsequently collected their belongings and left the site.
Their presence demonstrated exactly why the site needed to be systematically checked and dynamically risk assessed, rather than assuming that apparently closed commercial premises were unoccupied.
Once it had been established that there were no further occupants preventing the operation from progressing, the team continued securing the premises.
Forfeiture and Goods Notices
Once possession had been recovered and the relevant areas secured, appropriate forfeiture notices were displayed at the premises.
Notices relating to goods remaining at the property were also dealt with as part of the operational process.
Where goods are left behind following forfeiture, landlords must consider their responsibilities concerning those goods. The appropriate procedure and notice period will depend on the circumstances, so this should be dealt with separately from the act of forfeiture itself.
The Tenant Arrives
Shortly after control had been established, an individual connected with one of the businesses arrived and began making telephone calls.
The tenant and another individual subsequently attended the site.
They informed our team that they were aware of the previous unsuccessful enforcement attempt and immediately recognised that this operation had been planned and resourced differently.
The tenant also warned that the action could result in a significant response from people within the surrounding community.
This reinforced the risks identified during the reconnaissance and demonstrated the importance of having sufficient resources already deployed before the situation began to develop.
Maintaining a Secure Perimeter
Throughout the day, numerous people attended outside the site in different vehicles.
The enforcement and security teams maintained control of the perimeter while continually assessing the developing situation.
The tenant was informed that the landlord had exercised its right of re-entry and that access to the secured premises would not simply be restored.
Where belongings were requested, controlled arrangements could be made for appropriate items to be brought to the perimeter rather than allowing unrestricted access back into the secured site.
This allowed the team to facilitate reasonable requests without compromising control of the premises.
Media Attention
As activity outside the site increased, the operation also attracted the attention of a local journalist.
The journalist interviewed individuals outside the premises and subsequently approached our team requesting a statement.
Absolute Enforcement politely declined to comment while the live enforcement operation remained ongoing.
Maintaining confidentiality and professionalism was particularly important given the developing circumstances.
Police Liaison
Because the risk assessment had identified the potential for confrontation or significant third-party attendance, the Metropolitan Police had been informed of the planned operation beforehand and an incident reference had been obtained.
As circumstances developed, our team maintained appropriate communication with the police and provided updates regarding activity surrounding the site.
Where concerns arose regarding matters potentially outside our enforcement role, relevant information was also passed to the police.
The purpose of this liaison was not to ask the police to carry out the forfeiture on the landlord’s behalf, but to ensure that appropriate information was available should a policing matter arise.
Preparing for the Night
By the evening, Absolute Enforcement remained in control of the site.
However, the operation was far from finished.
Several vehicles attended or passed the premises during the night. Their intentions could not be established, so the security team remained alert and continued monitoring the perimeter.
The operational plan had anticipated that taking possession and holding possession were two very different challenges.
The initial entry had succeeded.
The commercial units had been secured.
The perimeter remained under our control.
But the next phase would demonstrate why the substantial security resources and detailed planning had been necessary.
Missed Part 1 of Operation Stronghold?
See how the operation was planned, risk assessed and prepared, before the team deployed to take control of the site.
