On 21 January 2005, London Animal Action (LAA) had its bank account frozen by a High Court order. The reason given was that LAA is liable for £197,000 of court costs from an injunction taken out by Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS) under the Protection from Harassment Act. LAA’s bank account contained several thousand pounds that had been raised to buy a minibus.
This is an unprecedented act - to freeze the bank account of a legal, peaceful local campaign group by the abuse of an Act designed to protect vulnerable women. If this is allowed to stand, all campaign groups, from animal rights groups to others like environmentalists are at risk from the same kind of legal harassment.
LAA was always an informal umbrella group of individuals concerned about cruelty to animals. It had no members and its supporters campaigned on a wide range of topics. Any individual who stands up in court on behalf of LAA could face financial ruin, just on court costs alone. And this will apply to someone who had never personally campaigned against HLS at all.
Because of this we have had to close down the group, but rest assured that there will be no let-up in campaigns against animal abuse. See below for forthcoming events that have already been planned. The likelihood is that this will stir up a hornets nest of anger against HLS.
The 1997 Protection from Harassment Act was intended to protect women who were being stalked. Instead it has been used by corporations to stifle protests against their activities.
We are taking legal advice on fighting this case, but this could cost several thousand pounds just to get started, which we don't have. Also, any person representing LAA risks bankruptcy if they lose the case. If you would like to offer support, whether legal or financial, you would be best to contact the Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty campaign.
LAA’s old address, BM Box 2248, London WC1N 3XX should still be operational for at least a few months, as will the email address
info@laa.org.uk
LAA was always an informal umbrella group of individuals concerned about cruelty to animals. It had no members and its supporters campaigned on a wide range of topics. Any individual who stands up in court on behalf of LAA could face financial ruin, just on court costs alone. And this will apply to someone who had never personally campaigned against HLS at all.
Because of this we have had to close down the group, but rest assured that there will be no let-up in campaigns against animal abuse. See below for forthcoming events that have already been planned. The likelihood is that this will stir up a hornets nest of anger against HLS.
The 1997 Protection from Harassment Act was intended to protect women who were being stalked. Instead it has been used by corporations to stifle protests against their activities.
We are taking legal advice on fighting this case, but this could cost several thousand pounds just to get started, which we don't have. Also, any person representing LAA risks bankruptcy if they lose the case. If you would like to offer support, whether legal or financial, you would be best to contact the Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty campaign.
LAA’s old address, BM Box 2248, London WC1N 3XX should still be operational for at least a few months, as will the email address
info@laa.org.uk 
Comments
Hide the following 3 comments
Inevitable
20.02.2005 14:19
We begged, we pleaded, we asked but still those who decided only they who knew best continued. The campaign of intimidation and threat was all the government needed to brand the entire movement and use laws like these.
Arrests under D notice have also taken place on Saturday, organisations have been raided this morning.
Anon
corporations vs
20.02.2005 15:15
all this has now been chucked up in the air by the victory of the mclibel 2 who succeeded in winning "the right to a fair trial and right to freedom of expression" for campaigners with no money who take on multi million dollar corporations. the european court of human rights ruling explained here:
- -
More info please
22.02.2005 10:54
Nona