GOING OUT ON A HIGH

After the success of last year’s camp (see SchNEWS 686) at Highgate Farm in Lincolnshire - which breeds rabbits and ferrets for vivisection - another protest camp was held this week. Protesters occupied public land next to the farm but police said that due to previous protests and complaints from the Lamborghini-driving owner of the farm, Geoffrey Douglas, the camp would violate section 42 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 (brought out to stop home demos).

To get around this the protest camp was to be between the hours of 7am-7pm each day. Like the previous camp, the protest was non-violent.

On the second day police arrested two protesters for using a megaphone – charging them with ‘contravening a direction given by a police officer’, and banning them from Lincolnshire until the case goes to court! Then they banned the remaining protesters from going to Highgate Farm for 28 days – presumably under section 42 of the CJPA – it remains to be seen whether this was lawful.

So the camp is gone, but the farm continues – and would probably love more visits from animal rights campaigners. It’s at Highgate Lane, Normanby-by-Spital, Market Rasen, LN8 2HQ.

For more call 07973722978 or 07973722978 or see www.closehighgatefarm.com