Protest was part of plan to close down Sequani (From Ledbury Reporter)

Protest was part of plan to close down Sequani

9:25am Friday 12th September 2008

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POLICE say that last Saturday’s mass gathering of animal rights protestors at Sequani was part of an ongoing campaign of intimidation to force the plant’s closure.

Up to 200 activists, many dressed in green and back, arrived for one of the largest demonstrations in Ledbury for several years.

A number sounded airhorns, waved flags or carried placards saying “Free Sean Kirtley”, with reference to the jailed Malvern-based animal rights protestor.

Five arrests were made for low-level public order offences.

Several arrests came following a megaphoned speech about Kirtley, at 12.50pm.

Officers had only allowed up to 15 protestors to gather by Sequani itself.

The rest were told to gather at the entrance to the town trail, opposite the train station, and it was this group that heard the speech about Kirtley then rushed towards Sequani with the cry “let’s go!”

Police were seen handcuffing a several protestors as pushing broke out.

But Chief Inspector Shane Hancock said: “The day went pretty much as we anticipated,and there was no serious disorder in Ledbury.”

Of the five people arrested at “The Carnival Against Vivisection”, two were later charged with low-level public order offences, two were cautioned and one protestor was released on bail, while enquiries continue.

The police turned out in strength on the day, parking transit vans with riot police at Ledbury train station and elsewhere.

From noon for about one hour, train travellers could not disembark immediately at Ledbury station, because the train doors were kept locked until officers could assess the people who wished to get off.

Chief Insp Hancock said: “This was so people we considered might be protestors could be made aware of certain conditions.”

Police had applied to impose certain conditions under Section 14 of the Public Order Act, 1986, on the grounds that “the purpose of the assembly is part of an ongoing campaign to intimidate staff working at Sequani with an intention to force closure”.

Sean Kirtley is currently serving four and half years in prison for his part in a campaign against the lab, including the targeting of suppliers.

He launched an appeal in June.

Following the rush towards Sequani on Saturday, the protestors then marched peacefully through the centre of town.

Police on motorcycles led the way.

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