Sabs arrested and property seized
Hunt Watch | 08.01.2008 18:56 | Animal Liberation | Repression
"Police descended on the group using dogs and the force's one helicopter and arrested the entire group." Roger Swaine, of the Hunt Saboteurs Association, said the East Midlands' saboteurs were "monitoring" the hunt. Eleven hunt saboteurs were arrested at the weekend and kept in custody for up to 24 hours
**Only report found regarding issue.
HUNT SABOTEURS ARRESTED IN DERBYSHIRE
7th January 2008
Eleven hunt saboteurs were arrested at the weekend and kept in custody for up to 24 hours.
Police were called to a farm in Somersal Herbert in Derbyshire at 1pm on Saturday, where a Meynell and South Staffordshire drag hunt was taking place.
They arrested the saboteurs under the Trade Union Act, which covers protests, and kept them in custody overnight at St Mary's Wharf police station in Derby.
The saboteurs were interviewed on Sunday before being released on police bail pending further inquiries.
But a group representing the saboteurs have labelled the police's actions on Saturday as a "draconian".
Roger Swaine, of the Hunt Saboteurs Association, said the East Midlands' saboteurs were "monitoring" the hunt.
Mr Swaine said: "They were using purely video cameras to monitor the hunt from public footpaths and did not attempt to use the more traditional pre-hunt ban disruption techniques, as there appeared no reason to do so.
"Police descended on the group using dogs and the force's one helicopter and arrested the entire group.
"They were released almost 24 hours later."
He claimed the group was doing no wrong.
Mr Swaine said that video cameras, purses, wallets, house keys, mobile phones and the group's vehicle had been confiscated.
"Very few of these items have yet been returned to their rightful owners," said Mr Swaine.
A police spokeswoman said: "We went to the farm because of a reported disturbance."
She added that some property was seized and was being used as evidence in the investigation.
Those arrested are due to answer bail in March.
http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=124378&command=displayContent&sourceNode=231734&home=yes&more_nodeId1=124522&contentPK=19475144
HUNT SABOTEURS ARRESTED IN DERBYSHIRE
7th January 2008
Eleven hunt saboteurs were arrested at the weekend and kept in custody for up to 24 hours.
Police were called to a farm in Somersal Herbert in Derbyshire at 1pm on Saturday, where a Meynell and South Staffordshire drag hunt was taking place.
They arrested the saboteurs under the Trade Union Act, which covers protests, and kept them in custody overnight at St Mary's Wharf police station in Derby.
The saboteurs were interviewed on Sunday before being released on police bail pending further inquiries.
But a group representing the saboteurs have labelled the police's actions on Saturday as a "draconian".
Roger Swaine, of the Hunt Saboteurs Association, said the East Midlands' saboteurs were "monitoring" the hunt.
Mr Swaine said: "They were using purely video cameras to monitor the hunt from public footpaths and did not attempt to use the more traditional pre-hunt ban disruption techniques, as there appeared no reason to do so.
"Police descended on the group using dogs and the force's one helicopter and arrested the entire group.
"They were released almost 24 hours later."
He claimed the group was doing no wrong.
Mr Swaine said that video cameras, purses, wallets, house keys, mobile phones and the group's vehicle had been confiscated.
"Very few of these items have yet been returned to their rightful owners," said Mr Swaine.
A police spokeswoman said: "We went to the farm because of a reported disturbance."
She added that some property was seized and was being used as evidence in the investigation.
Those arrested are due to answer bail in March.
http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=124378&command=displayContent&sourceNode=231734&home=yes&more_nodeId1=124522&contentPK=19475144
Hunt Watch