Occupation of Lobby Restaurant

On Sunday, 5 November 2017, ACT Policing were advised approximately 5 persons were occupying a building which previously housed the Lobby Restaurant.

The building is located on crown land and is controlled by the National Capital Authority (NCA), who provided a statement of complaint to ACT Policing.

A meeting was conducted that afternoon, where the owners of the building gave permission for the persons to remain in the building until a scheduled meeting on 8 November 2017.

On Wednesday, 8 November 2017, the NCA and the groups’ representatives met again. A resolution between the NCA and the groups’ representatives could not be reached.

ACT Policing were advised that permission provided to the group on Sunday, 5 November 2017, to remain in the building had been removed and were asked to restore the building to an unoccupied state.

At around 9.30am on Thursday, 9 November 2017, ACT Policing attended the Lobby Restaurant and negotiated a peaceful resolution with the single occupant. The man was taken into custody and conveyed to City Police Station where he was charged with failing to leave a Commonwealth premise when directed to do so.

The man was released on bail to face Court in December 2017.

Throughout the negotiation process, ACT Policing supported liaison between the NCA and the groups’ representatives in an attempt to negotiate a peaceful resolution.

Media enquiries

Police Media — (02) 6264 9460, act-police-media@afp.gov.au