SLIPPING THE NET

The National Extremism Tactical Co-ordinating Unit (NETCU) - the anti-protestor political police – have suffered an embarrassing setback with the acquittal of Vikki Waterhouse-Taylor.

Vikki, along with three others, was charged under SOCPA 145 ‘conspiracy to interfere with the contractual relations of an animal research organisation’ after being caught trespassing near to Highgate Rabbit Farm in Lincolnshire. Despite huge police expenditure – with one source estimating nearly £1 million - the case against Vikki was thrown out due to lack of evidence. In a comment on Indymedia UK, Vikki said the reason she pleaded not guilty and went through with the trial was “mostly because I was/am too stubborn to listen to anyone.” That stubbornness paid off.

During the prosecution it emerged that Highgate Rabbit farm had been induced to stay open by the state. Following an ALF raid in Janiary 2008 the farmer had been about to call it a day. He sold his remaining stock of rabbits to HLS and set about winding the business down. At this point, the farmer said, he was visited by the police “and others” and was persuaded to keep the business open.

* NETCU was essentially set up to protect corporations from increasingly effective animal rights campaigns such as SHAC. It monitors the policing of animal rights activists and other political movements; follows prosecutions through the courts and cultivates informants. Animal rights campaigners have been targeted with increasingly repressive new legislation in a series of show trials against the SHAC campaign and Stop Sequani Animal Torture (SSAT). 

* http://netcu.wordpress.com