Animal rights demonstrators converged for day of action

3:40pm Wednesday 14th February 2001

THE Bushey home of a director of a multinational drug company, was one of several targets in the Home Counties hit by animal rights campaigners at the weekend, following an organised protest against Huntingdon Life Sciences, one of Europe's biggest contract vivisection laboratories.

More than 100 activists staged a protest against the Cambridgeshire-based organisation outside the home of Mr Richard Daniel, director of drugs company Roche, in Melbourne Road, Bushey, at approximately 4.30pm on Sunday.

The protest was one of nine conducted across four counties on Sunday, following a meeting of more then 1,000 protesters in Christchurch car park, off Rickmansworth Road, Chorleywood.

The large-scale demonstration, organised by Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC), drew supporters from different parts of the country in more than 100 vehicles.

Police officers watched as the crowd were divided into teams, before a fog horn was sounded and assigned drivers were told to get into their vehicles.

At around 1.15pm, the vehicles began to leave the car park heading in different directions.

A total of 87 arrests resulted from a spate of synchronised protests aimed at individual executives and depots of pharmaceutical companies in connection with HLS then erupted throughout Hertfordshire and surrounding areas from 2pm onwards.

A spokesman for SHAC maintained all protests following the large-scale gathering were done so peacefully with the intention of harming neither human nor animal.

However, police confirmed criminal damage had taken place at a number of the designated targets after masked campaigners broke into secure compounds in Hampshire and Berkshire and smashed windows of the private homes and businesses in connection with HLS in Hertfordshire.

A resident of Melbourne Road in Bushey, who witnessed the incident designed to name and shame their neighbour, described the behaviour of protesters as "daunting" and "tormenting".

A press spokesman and member of SHAC since its formation 12 months ago, Mr Greg Avery, said: "Between us, we have written hundreds of letters to MP's regarding the documented evidence we have gathered to prove that this company is breaking Animal Scientific Procedures, but they have done little to acknowledge the problem and refused to meet with us."

Having exhausted all other avenues of communication, Mr Avery claims SHAC - the organisation behind the closure of a number of controversial animal breeding farms including Hillgrove cat farm in Oxford and Consort Kennels in Hereford - claims they were left with little option but to take direct action after being ignored by politicians.

Police throughout the counties concerned have said they will be conducting a thorough investigation in which they will endeavour to bring charges against all those involved.

SHAC, which currently boasts more than 10,000 members, said they are pleased with the way the demonstration went and maintains it will increase the intensity of its campaigns until the HAS is closed.

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