A MANCHESTER homeless camp described as a “safe community of support” for the city’s rough sleepers was violently broken up by bailiffs and police yesterday.

Manchester Metropolitan University had been granted a possession order for the site, which it owns.

Dozens of people were given just a few minutes to leave the camp, known as the Ark, and many lost their tents and all their belongings during the eviction.

Speaking to the Star, campaigner Jen Wu said the Ark had been “providing a service” by creating a space where homeless people felt safe.

“They just deprived people of shelter. No [contingency plans were given], it was an instant ‘get out.’ My head is in tatters,” she said after seeing many of those she had helped in the camp run away from the site in fear. “It’s devastating, it’s horrific, sickening, I can’t even believe that they’re doing this.

“They think they can do this to homeless people because it’s homeless people and homeless people aren’t humans, homeless people don’t have any rights.

“They can just abuse people materially, physically, in the media, in the courts. They think they can do what they want.”

One of the Ark’s founders, Ryan McPhee, was arrested for alleged breach of the peace and dragged away from the camp by four Greater Manchester Police officers.

The university has been criticised by its students and lecturers for its actions against the Ark.

Many were outraged that the university had forced the eviction of a homeless camp but will host events as part of a homeless film festival in November.