Upon arriving for the anti-fur protest in London yesterday, activists were surrounded by cops who unlawfully detained them to be searched under Section 1 of PACE, for possession of articles to commit criminal damage (despite no evidence against them).

One activist was bullied into consenting and then ridiculed when she became distressed by the harassment and intimidation. Two activists refused to facilitate the cops in acting unlawfully and were then arrested for Breach of the Peace (despite their behaviour not causing/going to cause BOP).

Cops repeatedly stated that the only intelligence they had was that “a protest was planned”, but that they had “no evidence whether it could or couldn’t become violent or disruptive”.

The two arrested activists were dragged to cop vans, handcuffed and taken to the station. One was kept cuffed in the cage of a van for almost 3 hours. Both activists were strip searched and verbally abused by numerous cops. They were eventually released just before 9pm.

Both will be taking this case to their solicitor.

London Animal Rights would like to make it clear that they will not give in to police intimidation and unlawful action. Activists will be returning to hold the intended demonstration in the near future.