It was quids in for animal rights protesters this week, as they finally got justice after being detained by Kent Police in 2006 on their way to a demo against live exports. In echoes of the Fairford coach detention case (see SchNEWS 565), around 40 protesters have been offered £1,250 each after being detained on board their coach and refused the right to demonstrate at Dover docks.

As one of the lucky winners told SchNews: " It was crazy, we were travelling down to a national demo, which had been organised in advance with the police. It was just after live exports had resumed following the foot-and-mouth epidemic. There were around forty of us in a coach from London. We were pulled over as soon as we got into Dover and given a police motorbike escort to Western Marina.

"When we got there we all tried to pile off the coach - but there were loads of them waiting for us. They were herding us around, pushing people over and eventually they forced us all back onto the coach and began walking up and down filming everybody. They then told told us we only had half an hour to demonstrate in Dover. Even that right was taken away almost immediately as they forced the coach to return to London with a police escort. It was one of the hottest days of the year and they didn't let anyone off the coach for a drink or to use the toilet. There were kids and elderly people with us. It was disgraceful, but to be honest, it's what animal rights activists expect from the police."

A small victory, but no doubt not enough to stop the ceaseless police harassment of animal rights campaigners (See any forthcoming SchNEWS...)

Currently UK exports of cattle have been suspended following yet another outbreak of bovine T.B but exports of sheep are continuing.

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