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England and Wales High Court (Queen's Bench Division) Decisions |
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You are here: BAILII >> Databases >> England and Wales High Court (Queen's Bench Division) Decisions >> Harlan Laboratories UK Ltd & Anor v Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty ("SHAC") & Anor [2012] EWHC 3408 (QB) (07 December 2012) URL: http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/QB/2012/3408.html Cite as: [2012] EWHC 3408 (QB) |
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QUEEN'S BENCH DIVISION
Strand, London, WC2A 2LL |
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B e f o r e :
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(1) HARLAN LABORATORIES UK LIMITED (for and on behalf of its officers and employees and the officers and employees of Harlan Laboratories Inc and its subsidiaries worldwide) (2) THEODORE ROBERT WASKY (for and on behalf of the officers and employees of Harlan Laboratories UK Limited, and the officers and employees of third party suppliers and service providers to Harlan Laboratories UK Limited) |
Claimants |
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- and - |
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(1) STOP HUNTINGDON ANIMAL CRUELTY ("SHAC") (an unincorporated association by its representative Greg Avery acting for and on behalf of the members of SHAC who are conducting activities against the Claimants) (2) National Anti-Vivisection Alliance ("NAVA") (an unincorporated association by its representative Luke Steele acting for and on behalf of the members of NAVA who are conducting activities against the Claimants) (3) PERSONS UNKNOWN who are conducting protesting and/or unlawful activities against the Claimants |
Defendants |
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(instructed by Lawson- Cruttenden & Co) for the Claimants
The Defendants did not appear and were not represented.
Ms Debbie Vincent appeared in person as an Interested Party.
Hearing dates: 14th & 15th November 2012
Judgment
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Crown Copyright ©
Mrs Justice Lang DBE:
The parties
"(5) References to a person, in the context of the harassment of a person, are references to a person who is an individual."
This was confirmed in Iqbal v Dean Manson Solicitors [2011] EWCA Civ 123, per Rix LJ at [57], Kosar v Bank of Scotland plc [2011] EWHC 1050 (Admin), per Silber J. at [3] – [9].
"A number of companies have been granted injunctions under section 3 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 ('the 1997 Act') to protect their employees from harassment by animal rights protestors. Despite this, it is not clear how far the 1997 Act can be used to protect employees of a company or a company itself …
Section 125 seeks to address this. Subsection (2) amends section 1 of the 1997 Act by inserting a new subsection (1A) which makes it an offence for a person to pursue a course of conduct involving the harassment of two or more persons on separate occasions which he knows or ought to know involves harassment and the purpose of which is to persuade any person (not necessarily one of the persons being harassed) not to do something he is entitled to do or to do something he is not under any obligation to do. It is not intended to catch lawful lobbying or peaceful protesting. … The sort of behaviour which will engage the new offence is activity involving threats and intimidation which forces an individual or individuals to stop doing lawful business with another company or with another individual."
"When the statute was enacted it applied only to simple harassment by one person of another, but the legislation was amended by the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 by the addition of subsection 1(1A) which prohibits the harassment of two or more persons with a view to persuading a third person to act or refrain from acting in a particular way. The proceedings in the present case were brought under that subsection, one purpose of which was to prohibit the harassment of employees or members of their families or others in order to put pressure on a third party."
"Care must be taken to ensure that Order 15 rule 12 is not abused. But where a number of unidentified persons are causing injury and damage by unlawful acts of one kind or another, and there is an arguable case that they belong to a single organisation or class which encourages action of the type complained of, and their actions can be linked to that organisation, then the rule enables the court to do justice in the particular case."
Purchas LJ stated that the first question to be answered was whether there was evidence that Animal Aid was "an identifiable if informal organisation of people having the same interest in the proceedings, namely an interest in furthering the campaign against the fur trade and/or by defending proceedings designed to inhibit the furtherance of that campaign." He concluded that there was a real prospect of the claimants establishing this.
"The crucial point, as it seems to me, is that the description used must be sufficiently certain as to identify both those who are included and those who are not. If that test is satisfied then it does not seem to me to matter that the description may apply to no one or to more than one person nor that there is no further element of subsequent identification whether by service or otherwise."
Service
Prohibition from Harassment Act 1997
"1. Prohibition of harassment
(1) A person must not pursue a course of conduct -
(a) which amounts to harassment of another, and(b) which he knows or ought to know amounts to harassment of the other.
(1A) A person must not pursue a course of conduct -
(a) which involves harassment of two or more persons, and(b) which he knows or ought to know involves harassment of those persons, and(c) by which he intends to persuade any person (whether or not one of those mentioned above) –(i) not to do something that he is entitled or required to do, or(ii) to do something that he is not under any obligation to do.
(2) For the purposes of this section, the person whose course of conduct is in question ought to know that it amounts to harassment of another if a reasonable person in possession of the same information would think the course of conduct amounted to harassment of the other.
3. Civil remedy
(1) An actual or apprehended breach of section 1 may be the subject of a claim in civil proceedings by the person who is or may be the victim of the course of conduct in question.
(2) On such a claim, damages may be awarded for (among other things) any anxiety caused by the harassment and any financial loss resulting from the harassment…
3A Injunctions to protect persons from harassment within section 1(1)(a)
(1) This section applies where there is an actual or apprehended breach of section 1(1A) by any person ("the relevant person").
(2) In such a case –
(a) any person who is or may be a victim of the course of conduct in question, or(b) any person who is or may be a person falling within section 1(1A)(c),
may apply to the High Court or a county court for an injunction restraining the relevant person from pursuing any conduct which amounts to harassment in relation to any person or persons mentioned or described in the injunction.
7. Interpretation of this group of sections
(2) References to harassing a person include alarming the person or causing the person distress.
(3) A 'course of conduct' must involve
(a) in the case of conduct in relation to a single person, conduct on at least two occasions in relation to that person, or(b) in the case of conduct in relation to two or more persons (see section 1(1A)), conduct on at least one occasion in relation to each of those persons.
(3A) A person's conduct on any occasion shall be taken, if aided, abetted, counselled and procured by another –
(a) to be conduct on that occasion of the other (as well as conduct of the person whose conduct it is …
(4) 'Conduct' includes speech.
(5) References to a person, in the context of the harassment of a person, are references to a person who is an individual."
"The Act does not attempt to define the type of conduct that is capable of constituting harassment. 'Harassment' is, however, a word which has a meaning which is generally understood. It describes conduct targeted at an individual which is calculated to produce the consequences described in section 7 and which is oppressive and unreasonable. The practice of stalking is a prime example of such conduct."
"I turn then to a summary of what must be proved as a matter of law in order for the claim in harassment to succeed.
(1) There must be conduct which occurs on at least two occasions,
"(2) which is targeted at the claimant,
(3) which is calculated in an objective sense to cause alarm or distress, and
(4) which is objectively judged to be oppressive and unacceptable.
(5) What is oppressive and unacceptable may depend on the social or working context in which the conduct occurs.
(6) A line is to be drawn between conduct which is unattractive and unreasonable, and conduct which has been described in various ways: 'torment' of the victim, 'of an order which would sustain criminal liability'."
The evidence
"21. There is a body of opinion which holds that the use of live animals in research is both immoral and unjustified. How large is the number of persons holding that opinion is a matter of conjecture. Those who hold those opinions want to stop research which involves experiments on live animals. They can be described as the Animal Rights Movement. This movement is entirely amorphous. It has no structure only a community of belief. There is no consensus as to the means by which the research involving live animals may be stopped. The Animal Rights Movement includes those who restrict their activities to that which is lawful and, at the other end of the spectrum, those who believe that they are morally justified in committing crime in order to achieve their aims. It includes organisations with a formal structure such as the R.S.P.C.A. and the League against Cruel Sports. Within this 'broad church' are groups whose activities are directed against specific targets, for example, SHAC. Whilst such groups may have founders and organisers, they have no formal membership. Their activities are advertised and those who support their aims are invited to participate. The activities are, as advertised, lawful although, on occasions, these advertised activities may be accompanied by actions which are either tortious (for example trespass) or which are deliberately criminal (for example assault or criminal damage.)
22. The movement includes those who will adopt civil disobedience as a means of achieving their aims and those who will commit crime in order to do so, an example of which is the Animal Liberation Front. A person can easily be part of the Animal Liberation Front — a fact which will be kept secret for obvious reasons — but also participate in activities which are entirely lawful or which are deliberately tortious."
"6. Huntingdon Life Sciences Limited, 'HLS', is a company which uses animals in the course of medical research. SHAC was set up in 1999 for the purpose of forcing it to close. In 2003 HLS obtained an interim order against SHAC and others to prevent the harassment of its employees and other protected persons defined in the order. Permanent orders were made on 19th March 2007 by Holland J. following a trial."
7. Early in the campaign against HLS the campaign was widened to include companies and persons who were connected with HLS financially such as customers, suppliers and shareholders. GlaxoSmithKline were named. In addition to carrying out its own research using animals, GSK contracts with HLS for HLS to carry out such research.
8 The first incidents against GSK occurred in 2000. In general the campaign took two forms. One was the holding of protests or demonstrations at GSK's premises of varying legality. The other was cynically called 'home visits' to GSK employees. A schedule of incidents between March 2005 and March 2007 was put in evidence. Over 80 incidents are recorded. The majority are attributed to SHAC. Nine are attributed to ALF.
14 Witness statements describe the intimidating effect of aggressive demonstrations using megaphones to shout abuse at close quarters, the thrusting of placards at employees and the obstruction and photographing of vehicles.
Operation Achilles and the Winchester trial
17 On 1st May 2007, as part of a police operation against leading animal rights activists named 'Operation Achilles', a series of raids were made in England, Amsterdam and Belgium. 32 people linked to animal rights extremism were arrested. The outcome in England was the preferment of two indictments, one against ten defendants and one against a further either six or seven. The ten faced a charge of conspiracy to blackmail, namely 'to blackmail representatives of companies and businesses and other persons whom they suspected of being associated with [HLS] by making unwarranted demands, namely to cease trading lawfully with HLS, with menaces and intent to cause loss to another'. On 30th July 2008 Greg Avery, Natasha Avery and Daniel Amos pleaded guilty. On 23rd December 2008 four others were found guilty following trial. Sentences ranging from eleven to four years were passed. The trial involved an investigation of the activities of the leading persons associated with SHAC and who also acted from time to time in the name of the ALF. Citations were made to me from the closing speech on behalf of the prosecution, from the summing up of Butterfield J. and from his sentencing remarks. The second trial has not yet taken place.
The Animal Liberation Front
19 The Animal Liberation Front, the ALF, is dedicated to the furtherance of animal rights by direct action, which is a euphemism for illegal conduct. It is therefore necessarily secretive. On the other hand it needs publicity for its actions in order to further its cause because its major weapons are intimidation and fear. So public sources reveal a certain amount about it. It has been submitted to me that it is no more than a badge or calling card which is used by activists when they commit an illegal act. So when a home is sprayed with graffiti the action is claimed for the ALF. But, it is said, the ALF has no real existence other than as a concept. I am satisfied that it is more than that. The evidence in this trial establishes that it is a name adopted by a group of individuals who carry out illegal acts in purported furtherance of animal liberation. There are some who are at the centre and will from time to time take decisions as to actions to be taken and policy. Others will have an on-going involvement with those at the centre and in activities undertaken in the name of the ALF. Some will have a temporary involvement by carrying out an action undertaken in the name of the ALF. These are, of course, not distinct categories but shade into one another: they are used simply to provide a description of those who at any one time should be considered members of the ALF. There is naturally no formal membership nor any published membership criteria. Nor is there any formal constitution or structure.
SHAC
22. I can deal more shortly with SHAC. It is accepted in the defences of Mr Avery and Dr Gastone that SHAC is an unincorporated association. ... In Mr Avery's defence it is denied SHAC has members; it is admitted that he has been a spokesperson for SHAC and has convictions relating to the SHAC campaign; it is denied that he is an appropriate representative defendant because the overwhelming majority of SHAC campaigners protest peacefully and within the law. It is asserted that SHAC's campaign has been lawful; that SHAC condemns unlawful protest; that SHAC has no links with the ALF; and that SHAC's spokespersons have condemned unlawful activity on many occasions. Dr Gastone's defence is in the same terms. But his defence was not conducted on that basis. In the opening written submissions served on his behalf it was accepted that the claimants had produced sufficient evidence to justify injunctions against persons properly appearing as defendants, though not against him. At the start of his oral closing Mr Rajeev Thacker accepted on Dr Gastone's behalf that appropriate claimants were entitled to judgment against SHAC if it was appropriately represented, and he asserted that there was no point in adding Dr Gastone as a second representative because SHAC could be represented in the action by Mr Avery.
23 In his unchallenged evidence Mr Trundley stated that SHAC had a website, contact details, a bank account for donations, and the use of properties, computers printing facilities and funds from street collections. Various SHAC documents refer to members. It was set up by Greg Avery, Natasha Avery and Heather Nicholson. They were responsible for the contents of its newsletters, and putting on its website information as to the names and locations of companies and persons to be targeted. I accept that it does not have a membership in a formal sense. The strong probability is that all those taking part in or contributing to its campaign are to be considered members. It is recorded in a judgment of Grigson J. in the Oxford case, [2004] EWHC 2543 , in which he extended the interim injunction until trial, that a joint declaration had been made by the three founders of SHAC that three other defendants had never been members of SHAC. That strongly suggests that there are others who are treated as members of SHAC.
24. Lastly, it is as well to repeat that the ALF was founded long before SHAC, and that, in contrast with the general animal liberation objects of the ALF, SHAC's campaign is primarily against HLS and secondarily against all those who can be said to support HLS's continuation in business in some way. It follows that, although some of those who take action against GSK as members of the ALF will be members of SHAC, others will not be.
Greg Avery
26 Mr Avery was one of the founders of SHAC. His public stance has been that SHAC is not responsible for violence and does not condone it. His involvement in the forefront of the SHAC campaign is described in paragraph 99 of Mr Trundley's witness statement. In passing sentence in January 2009 Butterfield J. stated:
"You are lifelong, veteran, fanatical animal rights activists, as your previous convictions and your participation in this conspiracy demonstrates. I have little, if any, confidence in the assertions now made on your behalf that you do not propose to continue in this activity. Unless restrained in some way, I consider there is a high probability that you will, and that in doing so you will again cause the really serious psychological harm that you have already inflicted on so many."
It was submitted to me on behalf of the claimants, and I accept, that the evidence in the Winchester trial makes it impossible to contend that SHAC is an entity whose operations stay within the law..."
"13 There have been a number of actions, brought by HLS [Huntingdon Life Sciences] and other companies, seeking to restrain the activities of the Defendants and others. An action brought by HLS itself was tried by Holland J in 2007 – see his judgment at [2007] EWHC 522 (QB). An injunction was granted against both SHAC and other protestors (as then defined in that injunction).
14 In BayerCropScience Limited v SHAC and others (the same Defendants as in this action), Treacy J granted an interim injunction on 23rd April 2008 – see [2008] EWHC 1069 (QB). Treacy J concluded, amongst other things, that:-
i) The evidence before him, including materials about Novartis downloaded from the SHAC website, showed that SHAC was part of a campaign against HLS and others.ii) An article by one Kevin Jonas, an American member of SHAC, entitled 'Bricks and Bullhorns' and another article downloaded from the SHAC website, showed that SHAC's activities were linked closely to those of the Animal Liberation Front ('ALF') and others, in an attempt to bring down HLS by legal and illegal means.iii) There was also a link between SHAC and a website called Bite Back which advocated and reported illegal actions, in particular by the ALF, in connection with the pursuit of animal rights, which SHAC adopted and condoned....
15 In passing sentence on the Second, Third and Fourth Defendants, and others, in January 2009 at the Winchester Crown Court, Butterfield J said, amongst other things, as follows:-
"…Each of you is passionately opposed to the use of animals in research laboratories. I accept that for each of you the principal motivation for your blackmail was not financial or other personal gain, but stemmed from your genuinely held concerns about cruelty to animals. You have every right to hold those views, every right to express them and every right to protest against the law that requires medicines to be tested on animals.Freedom of expression and the right to lawful protest are important rights. But so is the right to conduct vital biomedical research in ways not really permitted but required by our law, and so is the right of business to carry on lawful trading with companies carrying out that research.You, Greg and Natasha Avery and Heather Nicholson, decided that lawful protest, reasoned argument and the use of political pressure was not going to achieve your clear ambition to close down Huntingdon Life Sciences. And so you embarked on a campaign of terror, persecuting and harassing the employees of any company whom you even suspected of having links with Huntingdon Life Sciences so that, you hoped, they would cease trading with the laboratory thereby ultimately bringing down Huntingdon Life Sciences.You cloaked your activities with what, in my judgment, was a hypocritical sham pretence that SHAC, the organisation you three set up, was a vehicle for legitimate lawful protest in an area of public concern. It was nothing of the sort. It was a vehicle used to terrorise ordinary, decent traders carrying on perfectly lawful businesses.You developed a highly organised, well researched and meticulously executed plan of attack. You used deception to find out which companies were actually connected with Huntingdon Life Sciences as its clients, its suppliers or contractors working for them. Once you discovered or even suspected that a company or business was connected with the laboratory, the company would be contacted, the work of HLS explained to them and they would be invited to stop trading with the laboratory.If they agreed, and many did for fear of what might happen if they did not capitulate, that was that. If not, the name, address and other contact details of the company were published on the SHAC website.In addition, you ascertained the home addresses and other personal details of senior employees of the companies. How you achieved that has not been for the most part revealed by the evidence, but your intelligence, the fruits of the research carried out by you or on your behalf, gave you information about ex-directory telephone numbers, the names of the wives and even the children of some of the employees, the days on which their bins were emptied and the extent of any security measures in place at their homes.The consequence of publication of the company details on the website was that the company and its employees became the target of criminal activity. You used all the tactics and more. Tactics described in detail in the urban terrorists' handbook, the so called ABIX 4 document.You, or those working under your direction and control, embarked upon a ruthless, sustained campaign designed to strike such fear into the minds of the employees that the companies would ultimately capitulate in the face of your intimidation.The criminal activity included making false allegations of paedophilia, which were circulated to neighbours of the employee, and sending hoax bombs to the business premises or home addresses of an employee; hoax bombs which were extremely realistic and which resulted in the bomb squad having to attend to deal with the packages.The activity also included the sending of sanitary towels allegedly contaminated with the AIDS virus, demonstrations and damage at the homes of members of staff, threats or actual criminal damage to property, threat of physical assault, threatening and abusive telephone calls, emails and letters, repeated silent calls often in the middle of the night, delivery of unwanted material from mail order companies and the co-ordinated sending of emails or telephone calls so as to block the company's systems.Then there were the demonstrations outside company premises and disruptive trespasses into company premises. Video footage of those demonstrations were taken by demonstrators and I have seen a number of them. There is little if any attempt to explain the cause SHAC promoted. The demonstrations were designed quite simply to create a climate of fear at the company.There were often violent and abusive words shouted through megaphones at staff. The video cameras were pointed at staff and at the registration numbers of their parked cars in order to suggest that their homes would be identified for future violence there. There were threats to get the staff, to target them personally, even to kill them; many of the staff being women who were plainly very frightened at what was happening.…The effect of this relentless, sustained, merciless and ruthless persecution was as serious as it was inevitable. There was evidence before the jury of the targeting of employees of no less than 40 separate companies over a six year period.Many of the employees of those companies were deeply affected by what you organised. When a hoax bomb is sent to a company and the premises are evacuated and the bomb squad attends, it is not just the senior management who are affected, it is all the staff. There was evidence that in at least one company counselling had to be arranged for some of the staff, so disturbed were they by what had happened.The climate of fear…would permeate a whole organisation just as you intended: when are they coming back; what will it be next time? And so much worse for the individuals who were targeted at home......In my judgment, your conduct during demonstrations outside victim company premises and your incitement, organisation and encouragement of criminal activity at every opportunity, including on the SHAC website, makes it abundantly clear that such an order is essential."
i) When Luke Steele was in prison, he was supported by the Animal Liberation Front Supporters Group.
ii) The protest at the First Claimant's premises organised by NAVA on 27th August 2011 was reported on the ALF website.
iii) An announcement on the internet magazine Bite Back, downloaded on 12th July 2011, read "...from the small breeders to the likes of Harlan - the ALF are watching and we will close you down. We will smash the breeders..."
iv) On 11th July 2011, a handwritten letter was sent to Harlan Wyton, Cambridgeshire which read:
"From Animal liberation Front. Find all the dogs a new home within one month. And do no more experiments on animal. We will give you one month. From (th)is letter. We will blow you up."The Claimants describe this as blackmail.
v) ALF activists committed criminal damage against Sunlight's premises in Leeds and Coventry on 25th and 26th January 2012 because it supplies Harlan. Sunlight was one of the companies identified by NAVA in its list of Harlan suppliers dated 24th January 2012.
vi) After Monock Freight had been listed as a Harlan supplier by SHAC, ALF activists committed criminal damage at the homes of directors of Monock Freight, which acts as a courier between Harlan and HLS. They threatened them and their families and colleagues with further violence.
Summary judgment
i) it considers that the defendant has no real prospect of successfully defending the claim or issue, and
ii) there is no other compelling reason why the case or issue should be disposed of at a trial.
i) Those entering and leaving the premises have been subjected to verbal abuse and threats both shouted and through loudhailers.
ii) Groups of protestors block vehicles (including private cars) from passing, and then surround the vehicles in an intimidating manner, shouting abuse, hitting the vehicles, and placing offensive placards and banners over windscreens and windows.
iii) The masks and ALF insignia adopted by the protestors add to the fear and intimidation felt by the victims.
iv) The practice of photographing employees and their vehicles, and recording registration details, is frightening and intimidating in the light of the history of harassment at private homes by animal rights activists (see Butterfield J.'s sentencing remarks above).
v) Breaking in and trespassing at Harlan premises, when they are staffed.
vi) Deliberate noise nuisance, with loudspeakers and air horns, intended to disturb those inside the premises, day and night.
vii) At Harlan Wyton, protestors have been running into the path of cars moving at speed along a busy road, causing the driver to swerve into the path of oncoming traffic to avoid them. This is both frightening and dangerous for the drivers and their passengers.
viii) Luke Steele, activist in NAVA, and Jonathan White, activist in SHAC, were arrested in a protest at the First Claimant's Hillcrest site in April 2011. Luke Steele was convicted of interfering with contractual relationships so as to harm animal research organisations and both he and Jonathan Steele were convicted of intimidating persons connected with animal research organisations, contrary to sections 145 and 146 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005. Both men were found to have acted in an anti-social manner causing harassment, alarm and distress, and were sentenced to ASBOs restricting their contact with protected companies, including the First Claimant.
"Inside the lab where animal testing staff live in fear. Science editor Robert McKie gains rare access to the beleaguered lab where rats and mice are bred for essential medical research….The twin gates topped with razor wire and spikes, would do justice to a prison…One female Harlan worker told the Observer: "When you arrived in the morning you would have to queue for up to five minutes to get through the gates. Their loudhailers were deafening. They would scream at you that you were a puppy killer and would bang on your car. It was horrible, I was left shaking for hours afterwards. A male colleague was equally affected: "It is part of their methodology to equate animal work with paedophilia. If they find out your name, you will appear on their website as a paedophile… Another Harlan worker found out that his neighbours had all been sent notes claiming that he was a rapist."
i) On 11th July 2011, a handwritten letter was sent to Harlan Wyton, Cambridgeshire which read:
"From Animal liberation Front. Find all the dogs a new home within one month. And do no more experiments on animal. We will give you one month. From (th)is letter. We will blow you up."The Claimants rightly describe this as blackmail.
ii) An announcement on the internet magazine Bite Back, downloaded on 12th July 2011, read "...from the small breeders to the likes of Harlan - the ALF are watching and we will close you down. We will smash the breeders..."
i) Stericycle ("SRCL") is a clinical and specialist waste management company which provides services to the First Claimant.
ii) 3rd November 2011. NAVA announced demonstrations at SRCL headquarters in Leeds, to take place on 8th November 2011. Luke Steele was named as chair and contact for NAVA in a NAVA press release.
iii) 4th November 2011: The Claimants' solicitors wrote to NAVA and Luke Steele informing them that SRCL was a service provider to Harlan and that the Order dated 5th October 2011 applied.
iv) 14th November 2011: the NAVA website stated that campaigners chained themselves together in a successful attempt to shut down the SRCL site in Leeds. Four activists, held out as members of NAVA, were arrested in connection with this action. The facebook page, seemingly in the name of NAVA, stated:
"it is impressive that activists are prepared to defy the Harlan injunction which covers its suppliers, and get themselves arrested… Let's hope that others realise that … injunctions are not going to stop us."v) 24th January 2012 – The address and contact details for SRCL were listed on the NAVA website as a company associated with the First Claimant, together with a threatening message:
"There are few companies who are willing to be associated with Harlan and here we bring you the hardcore. These are the ones keeping the kennels open and the beagles living in squalor. All of them have been informed about the staff punching and kicking dogs, but do not care – some even laughed when we told them. Make calls, send email, carry out demos and dismantle the vivisection breeders brick by brick. The beagles have nobody but you.""SRCL enter Harlan in unmarked vans to collect the remains of beagles killed due to unprofitability. They take them by the skipful to their Leeds plant for incineration. What a sick company SRCL are."vi) 5th & 26th January 2012: - criminal damage and trespass took place at SRCL premises:
"SRCL are a vital supplier to Harlan ... In the dead of night we climbed over the fences at the Head Office in Leeds. Walls were spray painted with slogans against Harlan and vivisection. Locks on the building were superglued shut and damage also done to the bike shed… For every bloodsoaked penny you make from this contract we will double it in costs" (Bite Back magazine online, which publishes messages on behalf of the ALF)
i) Sunlight Service Group provides laundry services to the First Claimant.
ii) 24th January 2012 – The address and contact details for Sunlight Service Group were listed on the NAVA website as a company associated with the First Claimant, together with a threatening message:
"There are few companies who are willing to be associated with Harlan and here we bring you the hardcore. These are the ones keeping the kennels open and the beagles living in squalor. All of them have been informed about the staff punching and kicking dogs, but do not care – some even laughed when we told them. Make calls, send email, carry out demos and dismantle the vivisection breeders brick by brick. The beagles have nobody but you." (NAVA website)."Sunlight enter Harlan Interfauna on a regular basis. They collect the blood and faeces soiled overalls of employees and take them away for cleaning. Employees within Sunlight tell us that nobody wants to touch Harlan's washing as the animal hairs are so difficult to get out.The list also included Ryder plc on the basis of its contract with Sunlight, stating:
"The company hold a contract with Sunlight, renting vans to the company that collect dirty laundry from Harlan. They claim they cannot control what their vans are used for – yeah right!"iii) 25th & 26th January 2012 – the ALF committed criminal damage at Sunlight's premises in Leeds and Coventry because of its connection with Harlan.
"We visited Sunlight in Leeds because they provide laundry facilities to Harlan. Locks were filled with glue and we spray painted slogans on their walls. When the Harlan dogs are left without justice we make it our mission to bring justice. Harlan will be torn down. ALF" (Bite Back magazine)"Sunlight in Coventry was our focus. This company deals with Harlan so also deal with the ALF. The depot walls were painted with slogans against these puppy killers. Animal Liberation Front." (Bite Back magazine)
i) Monock Freight is a specialist freight delivery company which carries out deliveries from the First Claimant to HLS, among other destinations.
ii) The name and address of Monock Freight was listed on the SHAC website as a "SHAC UK Action Targets". It was described on the website as "another specialist freight company. They transport everything from primates to blood samples across the globe for HLS".
iii) In February 2012, activists associated with the ALF carried out attacks at the homes of two employees of Monock Freight, and posted threatening messages in the online magazine Bite Back. The threats extended to their families. The names and home addresses of the victims were posted in full, thus potentially exposing them to further risk. I have anonymised them for the purposes of this judgment:
"On the night of 12th February we struck against PDP Couriers and Monock Freight. Both companies ferry documents, goods and animals to Huntingdon Life Sciences. First we went to the home of [x].This scumbag is a driver for PDP. We ruined his precious car and spray painted his house. Next we paid a visit to [y] and gave him the same treatment. Remember anyone who works to keep HLS open will be tracked down and dealt with accordingly…" (Bite Back magazine)"Last night (21st February) volunteers from the Animal Liberation Front attacked the home of Monock Freight Director, [y]…. While you and your wife [m] slept in your beds we were stripping the paint from your car and emptying a can of spray paint over the vehicle and your house. Is it still a good idea to deal with Huntingdon Life Sciences [y]?Your company has been involved in lab animal transport for some time now and we think that it's only fair that you receive the same attention as every other HLS dealing animal abusing scumbag on this planet. So let the message ring out in your ears like the sound of a big, loud explosion. You will not get away with dealing with HLS. If you were angry when you woke up…and saw your nice car, ruined. Let us tell you, this action is really rather tame compared to what we have planned for you, your family, your colleagues, your colleagues families etc etc unless Monock Freight severs all links with HLS. The choice is yours…carry on as you are and feel the full force of our guerrilla army, or drop HLS and have peace. We have nothing to lose, so…the choice is yours…until next time…sleep well...Animal Liberation Front" (Bite Back magazine)"Monock Freight are complete and utter scum…[z] Director Monock Freight…got a fraction of what he deserves when the ALF visited his home and paint-strippered his vehicles. We are on to you and your colleagues in animal abuse…Like the trains of death that took the Jews to the camps, you deliver helpless animals through the gates of Hell at HLS...For those that have died because of you [z] remember their deaths are your fault. You are to blame, [z] – ALF" (Bite Back magazine)
"You, or those working under your direction and control, embarked upon a ruthless, sustained campaign designed to strike such fear into the minds of the employees that the companies would ultimately capitulate in the face of your intimidation."
Permanent injunction
i) the convictions of activists from SHAC and NAVA, as recently as July 2012;
ii) the ritual spitting on the injunction notice posted outside Harlan premises;
iii) the facebook message, seemingly from NAVA, in response to the First Claimant's warning not to breach the injunction by harassing SRCL employees:
"it is impressive that activists are prepared to defy the Harlan injunction which covers its suppliers, and get themselves arrested… Let's hope that others realise that … injunctions are not going to stop us."
"the persons who worked in the three pharmacies which were targeted by Mrs Connolly had the right not to have sent to them material of the kind that she sent when it was her purpose, or one of her purposes, to cause distress or anxiety to the recipient. Just as members of the public have the right to be protected from such material (sent for such a purpose) in the privacy of their homes, so too, in general terms, do people in the workplace. But it must depend on the circumstances. The more offensive the material, the greater the likelihood that such persons have the right to be protected from receiving it. Much is likely to turn on the position of the recipient."
23. Lawful activities of the Animal Rights Movement include public protest and dissemination of information. Tortious activities include trespass. Criminal acts include assault, criminal damage, theft, burglary and harassment.
24. Research involving the use of live animals done in conformity with the Animal (Scientific) Procedures Act 1986 is lawful. Those who conduct such research or who, in the broadest sense, provide the facilities for such research are acting lawfully and are entitled to go about their lawful business. If citizens use unlawful means to prevent them doing so, or promote the use of such means, then those involved in lawful activity are entitled to such protection as the Courts can provide to enable them to pursue their lawful activities. See judgement of Stuart Smith LJ in Monsanto Plc v. Tilly [2000] ENV LR 313:
"Those views were genuinely and sincerely held and there was nothing whatever unlawful in trying to persuade others and particularly the Government of the rightness of their views provided they did not employ unlawful means to do so, and provided they did not incite others to use unlawful means, such that they were liable in tort to the Claimant ….
In a democratic society, the object of change in Government policy had to be effected by lawful and not unlawful means. Those who suffered infringement of their lawful rights were entitled to the protection of the law. If others deliberately infringed those rights in order to attract publicity to their cause, however sincerely they believed in its correctness, they had to bear the consequences of their law breaking. That was fundamental to the rule of law in a civilised and democratic society""
"A campaign which led ferry companies to stop importing animals for medical research was master-minded by a single animal rights militant backed by just a handful of supports…
The firms were so nervous that 22 year old [Luke] Steele and his acolytes would unleash more extreme tactics against them, they gave into the demands – partly because of his past involvement in a string of militant protests. Just a handful of airlines now transport research animals into Britain after Stena Line joined P & O Ferries and DFDS Seaways in halting the importation of…animals for laboratories….
Mr Steele and his comrades at… NAVA, which he launched in May 2010, now plan to intensify their campaign against airlines still willing to transport animals for medical research – chief among them Air France."
"The SHAC campaign has used a wide variety of tactics against HLS and all the companies supporting them with devastating success. HLS has seen one company after another desert them rather than be associated with the animal killers once their involvement with them has been highlighted."
"…a darling daylight raid took place at Harlan UK…all of the breeding records were taken. These indicated that one of their biggest customers is HLS." (SHAC newsletter 16)
"SHAC activist climbed over the razor wire of HLS' beagle supplier in Cambridgeshire...Myself and a few other protestors arrived at Harlan Interfauna (one of HLS's beagle suppliers)...climbed up over the razor wire and I was in the compound…main body of demonstrators had arrived and it was a real inspiration to see so many people ...trying to get into the compound with me." (SHAC website and SHAC newsletter 17)
"…Nothing puts as much of a spring into your step as dealing out justice to animal abusers...Our next destination - Harlan Interfauna...Interfauna acts as a breeder for Huntingdon and is one of the most vile companies in business in the UK today.…We gave hell to their captors and left with a renewed sense of purpose…" (SHAC website, "Demo at HLS customer TEVA")
"…People who carry out raids like these are bloody heroes…" (SHAC website, "Pictures from the Harlan Raid")
"A Message to all HLS Customers. [SHAC] campaigns ruthlessly and effectively against any company and individual that has links to HLS. Their advice to HLS customers...is to sever all links with HLS…Until that day, any company SHAC targets will receive office occupations, roof top demos, lock-on actions, pickets of workers, gate blockades, phone blockades, fax blockades, email blockades, leafleting and poster campaigns as well as demos outside the homes of their directors and employees. Pharmaceutical firm Yamanouchi thought they could ignore them and they soon had protestors on their rooftops, protestors rampaging around inside their offices, protestors gaining access to their sites and banging on the windows, protestors outside the homes of their directors, phone blockages involving 400+ calls per day, fax blockades and they have even had protestors from the UK travelling to other countries and storming in to their offices and going through confidential paperwork/ computer systems." (SHAC website)
"Harlan UK received a surprise visit from the relentless SHAC East Midlands...With placards and drums...Employees were forced to leave six at a time...this gave activists plenty of time to show employees horrific pictures...SHAC East Midlands look forward to another surprise demonstration soon at Harlan..." (SHAC website, "SHAC East Midlands visit HLS dog breeders")
"...Megaphones, whistles and drums echoed within the confines of the site...let Harlan know what you think of their filthy business!" Contact details of Harlan, Loughborough included. (SHAC website, "Harlan Sera-Lab Limited – supplier to HLS")
"...Had a good look around the back of the site...then we went to the front entrance and just stood there quietly... this obviously freaked them out...Nearby houses were all leafleted..." (SHAC website, "Real World Day May 27th Team 2")
"...with megaphones and our voices we caught all the workers...Evil does not even begin to describe you Harlan…" Contact details of Harlan, Blackthorn supplied in article." (SHAC website, "South East day of action against Huntingdon's customers and suppliers")
"...We took with us megaphones, drums and banners and used them to good effect... the noisy protest lasted most of the day... You're a disgusting company Harlan and we'll name and shame you across the world…" (SHAC website, "Protest at Harlan Interfauna Beagle Supplier")
"...we thought we would catch them by surprise so we turned up at their gates at roughly 3:30am the security were very shocked to see us...we used megaphones to inform the security guards just what happens... we will return soon and it could be at any time of the day or night..." (SHAC website, "Any time, anywhere demos, who's next?")
"...we shouted, chanted on megaphones and let off air horns..." (SHAC website, "More demos against Harlan and Safepharm")
"...thanks for opening the gates you idiots...the security willingly opened up the first gate...leaving the car half in, half out so they couldn't close the gate...we ran in shouting at security and shaming the company...we will be back soon..." (SHAC website, "Helpful Harlan security")
"...we arrived early at Harlan with our megaphones and a nice new air horn, with explosion of sound..." SHAC website, "Scary science UK tour day 5 finishing at HLS")
"...security didn't like our over use of the intercom... they need to know as major supplier you wont getting too much rest... see you soon Harlan, day or night..." (SHAC website, "Harlan Interfauna get a night time visit")
"Still photographs showing demos at various customers and suppliers of HLS including Harlan" (SHAC newsletter 50, "Words mean nothing action is everything")
"...the SHACtivists arrived for play time. We announced our arrival to the workers and security through our megaphones... we stayed until we were sure everyone knew why we were there..." (SHAC website "Demo at Harlan in Bicester")
"...we must never forget that these places will close as long as we will keep the pressure..." (SHAC website and SHAC newsletter 51, "Pick your own day in Leicestershire")
"...Harlan beagle breeders saw protesters from 7am in the morning on Monday 19th security was upped...and employees were called into work an hour before we ever arrived. Number plates were covered up in the car parks...
…Tuesday 20th...protesters arrived again at Harlan and take police on a fun walk around the perimeter fence..." (SHAC website, "Three days of protest around the UK")
"...the final visit today was to Harlan...Harlan – you'll never see the last of SHAC unless you cut your ties with HLS…" (SHAC website, "Day 1 of mad science May UK tour – Cheshire")
"...we targeted more HLS collaborators. Armed with leaflets, placards, megaphones and plenty of determination...we weren't the only ones to arrive at the gates of Harlan at the time, as we came face to face with the abusers themselves and gave them a dosage of the truth..." (SHAC website, "Day 2 of the UK tour – Leicestershire")
"...we paid another visit (to Harlan)...another loud and noisy demonstration and SHAC will keep on visiting you Harlan until you drop the puppy punchers HLS..." (SHAC website, "Day 3 of mad science May UK tour – Cambridgeshire")
"...so we moved around side of the site as well as being at the front gate to make sure the murderers could see and hear us... SHAC will be visiting them time and time again until they get some ethics..." (SHAC website, "Day 4 of mad science May UK tour –Reading")
"Showing UK demo tour against Harlan and other HLS customers and suppliers." (SHAC newsletter 52, "Mad science May")
"Address of Harlan lab given…if the weekly demos from locals weren't getting to you enough the new attention your getting from activists will... your gut–wrenching Harlan and we will be back..." (SHAC website, "Activists tour Leicestershire")
"...yet again we fought Harlan by surprise as we arrived in the pouring rain for an afternoon of constant protest by 12 dedicated, angry and proactive campaigners... many more surprise demos to come - anyone can do them..." (SHAC website, "Another surprise demo at Harlan in Loughborough")
"...we tore through the silence with our megaphone letting every worker know why we where there...we will be back soon Puppy Killers..." (SHAC website, "Protest at animal supplier Harlan")
"…constant protest echoing round the buildings for the afternoon. The workers scurried to get to their cars...rest assured Harlan, we will keep coming back, we will keep causing disruption until this place closes down…" Address of Harlan lab given. (SHAC website, "Another 'pop up' demo at Harlan")
"...our megaphones tore through the air as security rushed back into the hut..." (SHAC website, "Animal breeder week starts off with Harlan UK protest")
"the site was in complete lock down to however chants of 'Harlan UK – blood on your hands' were shouted..." Contact details of Harlan's Belton site published. (SHAC website, "Protests continue after national at Highgate Farm")
"...today activists turned up outside Harlan in Belton protesting from lunch time until the workers left...we made it clear then and will do now, that we are going to be outside that cruel place and standing up for these animals until it closes down..." (SHAC website, "Harlan demo in remembrance of Barry")
"there have been more demos in the last 4 month period than in any other time during SHAC's history … The first three months of 2007 have seen a sharp increase of ALF attacks in the UK especially against Novartis and GSK"
"...we stayed there until the last worker went home so they were reminded that what they do is not acceptable..." (SHAC website, "Thought police HQ visited and protest at Harlan Interfauna")
SHAC activists convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for conspiracy to blackmail at Winchester Crown Court. Judge Cutler "condemned animal rights activists for using their beliefs as a 'thin veneer' to wage a campaign of violent threats against a laboratory's suppliers". DCI Robbins said "The sentences passed today are a fitting reflection of the systematic and relentless intimidation of individuals and their employers, carried out by a small group of criminals".
"...from the small breeders to the likes of Harlan - the ALF are watching and we will close you down. We will smash the breeders..." (Bite Back magazine, downloaded 12th July 2011)
"...every site of Harlan and Charles River will have angry groups of activists outside..." (NAVA website, "February fightback: important notice", downloaded 12th July 2011)
Harlan UK named as a client of Charles River Laboratories on the NAVA website, downloaded 13th July 2011.
"...activists made their way down the windy roads to find Harlan...as part of a day of action called by NAVA against Harlan...we decided to stay silent..." (SHAC website, "HLS beagle supplier has protest")
"...activists in the north started their day at different sites of Harlan as part of a day of action..." (SHAC website, "Vivisection industry suppliers and AstraZeneca have protests")
"...activists ran across the fields at the back of the site...as a handful of them (workers) scuttled out of the gate...they were treated to activists letting them there we will close Harlan down…At Harlan Derbyshire...workers were returning from their lunch break but decided to wait for police escort…" (NAVA website, "Mobile demo mayhem starts at Harlan in the north", downloaded 12th July 2011)
Article entitled "East: eight cars of activists demo Interfauna" (NAVA website, downloaded 12th July 2011)
"...activists were running around the perimeter fence, others were at the gate letting the vivisection breeders know we never give in..." (NAVA website, "Sites invaded in mobile demos", downloaded 12th July 2011)
"...the company was in chaos and confusion as they attempted to operate the gates... as the staff finished leaving we headed on..." (NAVA website, "Staff seen out at Harlan sites", downloaded 12th July 2011.)
"Save the Harlan Beagles campaign launched" (NAVA and www.indymedia.org.uk websites)
"...after recently hearing about HSBC providing a bank account to Harlan breeders we thought we'd head there and stage a protest against them... this was a first of more to come until they drop Harlan..." (NAVA website, "NAVA midlands hit Harland's bankers" downloaded 12th July 2011)
"...ten activists headed for Harlan Beagles...as workers drove out of the kennel compound, they were faced with a barrage of noise. Activists also kept security staff on their toes by running around the fields...reports of fences being scaled...the campaign against Harlan Beagles is intensifying..." (NAVA website, "Hammering down on Harlan", downloaded 12th July 2011)
"...land outside the company gates was cordoned off and squatted with the aim of staying as long as possible...through out the week activists armed with placards and megaphones greeted workers in from 5am and out again...one activists managed to run into the compound..." (NAVA website, "Activists hold protest camp at Harlan", downloaded 12th July 2011)
DVD records four incidents of harassment and intimidation of Harlan employees as they seek to drive out of the main gate; protestor blocks vehicle; megaphone operated in close proximity to employee's car.
Protest camp outside main gate. Noise nuisance caused by megaphones. Constant obstruction of traffic seeking to gain access or egress from the site. A number of vehicles surrounded by protesters – occupants abused and intimidated.
CCTV footage of protesters who force open the outer gate and contest the security of the site. Protestors trespass upon the site and are arrested. Luke Steele and Jonathan White are arrested.
"...we have been protesting here and shouting at the workers as they come and go..." (NAVA website, "Leicester Mercury cover campaign", downloaded 12th July 2011)
"...Six banners were hung from bridges at motorway junctions in the area...we will continue with such publicity stunts and expose Harlan until the day they are closed..." (NAVA website, "Anti Harlan banner drops from M1 bridges", downloaded 12th July 2011)
"...organise and attend protests...contact Harlan and their suppliers...to complain about the company supplying beagles for vivisection...write to local newspapers..." (NAVA website, "Take action", downloaded 12th July 2011)
"...do you work for Harlan? Or perhaps one of their clients or suppliers?...blow the whistle on animal cruelty..." NAVA website, "Blow the whistle on Harlan", downloaded 12th July 2011)
"...regularly visits Harlan's beagles units and act as their veterinary surgeons... contact them and let them (know) about the dogs Harlan breed for vivisection." (NAVA website, "Cockburn veterinary group", downloaded 12th July 2011)
"...activists from across the country will descend on Loughborough Town Centre and the Kennels this Saturday in protest against this facility..." (NAVA website, "Official NAVA statement: permission refused for Humberside beagle farm", downloaded 12th July 2011.)
Video clips of aggressive and intimidatory protesting. Noise nuisance generated by megaphones. Protesters walk around the perimeter causing apprehension that they might seek to break into the site. Protesters photographed employees one protester obstructed an employee's vehicle entering the site and "kicked" it.
"Activists gathered around the Harlan site in Belton for a demo … One handful of protestors headed towards the side and back of the site where the Beagles were in clear sight along with a number of workers, who were shamed and were forced to face the facts … A moving van was surrounded by a handful of activists, refusing to allow its way onto the site. The driver soon made the decision to leave - and never returned…The Save the Harlan Beagles campaign is not only growing in numbers, it is growing in strength … our compassion and determination to close this hell hole down is reinforced by the hope and the fact that we will win." (Nava website, "Protest at the Beagle Kennels")
NAVA press release commenting on Sunday Times article criticising Harlan's husbandry of Beagle dogs, stating "NAVA have headed calls to close the beagle kennels down" and "Many industry figureheads, such as P & O Ferries and DFDS Seaways, have refused to conduct shipments of animals from Harlan following pressure from campaigners. These consignments of dogs were destined for European research centres." Luke Steele is quoted as "Chairman of NAVA".
Letter sent to Harlan Wyton, Cambridgeshire
"From Animal liberation Front. Find all the dogs a new home within one month. And do no more experiments on animal. We will give you one month. From (th)is letter. We will blow you up."
Luke Steele "of NAVA" quoted in Daily Mirror article criticising Harlan's husbandry of Beagle dogs.
"...activists held protest at the gates of Harlan, to make clear their opposition... thankfully, clients are closing down and terminating contracts so the Belton sites future looks uncertain…" (NAVA website, "Another demo hits Harlan", downloaded 12th July 2011)
Letter from Martin Simmons of NAVA to Grant Thornton LLP, accountants, inviting them to terminate their relationship with Harlan.
"...we ask that you take the above information into account and review your business arrangements with the company..."
"...NAVA are calling an emergency National demonstration at the site this Saturday in response to expose and increase calls to close these sordid kennels down..." (NAVA website)
Material downloaded from the NAVA facebook. Represents that a supplier (Thistle East Midlands Hotel) has resigned from Harlan. Incites protesters to contact the home/mobile telephones and email addresses of 5 Harlan employees represents that NAVA UK "follows" the ALF and SHAC campaigns on twitter. Includes photograph of two ALF activists rescuing animals under the caption "Saved from research by the ALF. www.facebook.com (facebook website)
Material downloaded from the NAVA website claims that "Harlan Hillcrest Beagle Farm to close"; announcement coincides with demonstration scheduled to commence at 12pm on 16th July 2011. National demonstration to be directed against Harlan Wyton on 27th August 2011. NAVA website
Protest.
Protest by 16 male and 17 female protestors. Use of megaphones in breach of the order dated 15th July 2011.
Protest – national demonstration.
Protest.
NAVA press release announces demonstrations at Stericycle ("SRCL") (clinical and specialist waste management company) HQ in Leeds, to take place on 8th November 2011.
"Leeds-based SRCL have hit the spotlight as a result of dealings with the company… SRCL collect the carcasses of beagle dogs killed at Harlan Interfauna and transport them for incineration at their site in Cross Green. NAVA has called upon the company to cut the contract… NAVA's Yorkshire Branch have vowed to step up the pressure on SRCL…"
Luke Steele held out as chair and contact for NAVA.
Claimants' solicitors write to NAVA and Luke Steele informing them that SRCL is a service provider to Harlan and that the Order dated 5th October 2011 applied. No reply received
NAVA website states that "campaigners chained themselves together …in a successful attempt to shut down the SRCL site in Leeds. Four activists, held out as members of NAVA, are arrested in connection with this action. The facebook page, seemingly in the name of NAVA, states among other matters that "it is impressive that activists are prepared to defy the Harlan injunction which covers its suppliers, and get themselves arrested… Let's hope that others realise that … injunctions are not going to stop us."
NAVA announce that Lakeside Lodge Golf Course, has resigned the contract with Harlan because of NAVAs campaign (NAVA website)
"SRCL are a vital supplier to Harlan...In the dead of night we climbed over the fences at the Head Office in Leeds. Walls were spraypainted with slogans against Harlan and vivisection. Locks on the building were superglued shut and damage also done to the bike shed… For every bloodsoaked penny you make from this contract we will double it in costs" (Bite Back website)
"There are few companies who are willing to be associated with Harlan and here we bring you the hardcore. These are the ones keeping the kennels open and the beagles living in squalor. All of them have been informed about the staff punching and kicking dogs, but do not care – some even laughed when we told them. Make calls, send email, carry out demos and dismantle the vivisection breeders brick by brick. The beagles have nobody but you." (NAVA website)
The companies listed include Cambridge Pet Crematorium, Cockburn Veterinary Group, Lakeside Lodge Golf Course, Ryder PLC, SRCL, Sunlight Service Group, Repton Security.
NAVA announce that Cambridge Pet Crematorium has resigned its contract with Harlan (NAVA website)
i) 25th & 26th January 2012 – Sunlight
The ALF commit 2 criminal damage actions against Sunlight's premises in Leeds and Coventry because it supplies Harlan. Sunlight was one of the companies identified by NAVA in its publication dated 24th January 2012.
"We visited Sunlight in Leeds because they provide laundry facilities to Harlan. Locks were filled with glue and we spray painted slogans on their walls. When the Harlan dogs are left without justice we make it out mission to bring justice. Harlan will be torn down. ALF" (Bite Back magazine)
"Sunlight in Coventry was our focus. This company deals with Harlan so also deal with the ALF. The depot walls were painted with slogans against these puppy killers. Animal Liberation Front." (Bite Back magazine)
NAVA announce that DFDS Seaways will no longer accept sea shipment of animals by ferry. www.facebook.com (NAVA website)
NAVA announce a demonstration at Harlan scheduled for 2pm on 6th March 2012 "Please bring megaphones (etc)…and dress in black with a face cover or balaclava." (NAVA website)
NAVA website announces protesting activities outside Harlan Wyton scheduled for 17 March 2012 (held out as the 22nd anniversary of the theft of 83 Beagle Puppies and 26 Rabbits from Harlem on the 17th March 1990).
SHAC website publishes names and addresses of companies identified as "targets" of the SHAC campaign. These include Monock Freight, Air-France and Impex
Publication of protests conducted against Air-France and KLM by SHAC, including downloads from the website www.airsouffrance.fr (protests conducted on 8th November 2011, 21st December 2011 and 3rd March 2012)
"On the night of 12th February we struck against PDP Couriers and Monock Freight. Both companies ferry documents, goods and animals to Huntingdon Life Sciences. First we went to the home of [x].This scumbag is a driver for PDP. We ruined his precious car and spray painted his house. Next we paid a visit to [y] and gave him the same treatment… "(Bite Back magazine)
"Last night (21st February) volunteers from the Animal Liberation Front attacked the home of Monock Freight Director, []…. While you and your wife [m] slept in your beds we were stripping the paint from your car and emptying a can of spray paint over the vehicle and your house. Is it still a good idea to deal with Huntingdon Life Sciences [y]? ….Let us tell you, this action is really rather tame compared to what we have planned for you, your family, your colleagues, your colleagues families …..Animal Liberation Front" (Bite Back magazine)
"Monock Freight are complete and utter scum…[z] Director Monock Freight .. got a fraction of what he deserves when the ALF visited his home and paint-strippered his vehicles...For those that have died because of you [z] remember their deaths are your fault – ALF" (Bite Back magazine)
"Gateway to hell campaign" launched on Alagenda.ch website, believed to be website of ALF. The aim is to prevent the transportation of live animals (other than pets) by air, sea and land.
Article in Times reporting that NAVA was moving its focus to the few foreign airlines, including Air France, that transport live animals.
Article in Sunday Telegraph describing Luke Steele as launching NAVA in 2010 and master-minding campaign to stop ferries and airlines, principally Air France, from transporting animals.
Protest by 60 protestors, some wearing beagle masks.
Protest by 30-35 protestors on the edge of the exclusion zone. No notice given. Constant use of loud hailers abusing employees. Employees photographed. Protestors' activities within the exclusion zone were not confined to the Designated Protest Area ("DPA")
Vehicles leaving the site were obstructed with protestors forming a tunnel along Sawtry Way involving loud hailer abuse, through which employees vehicles had to drive.
Three female protestors were seen immediately outside the entrance gate, outside the leafleting zone. They were spitting on a copy of the injunction.
Attempted e-mail blockade
Protest by 21 protestors on the edge of the exclusion zone. No notice given in breach of the order. Constant use of loud hailers. . Protestors form a tunnel along Sawtry Way through which employees are forced to drive.
Protest camp involving between 1-8 protestors at any given time. No notice given in breach of the order. Protesting activities conducted outside the DPA. Loud hailers used. Protestors obstructed employees' vehicles entering or leaving site. Some vehicles surrounded by protestors. Employees photographed. Use of loud hailers, protesting outside the DPA, shouting at employees and hitting cars of employees as they left the site.
Protest by 25 protestors. No notice given. Employees photographed. Employees' vehicles obstructed along Sawtry Way with protestors deliberately standing in the public highway. Protests within exclusion zone are not confined to the DPA.
Arun Mathai stood outside the DPA. He shouted abuse at employees leaving the site.
Protest by approximately 23 protestors. No notice was given in breach of the order. Conducted in a loud and aggressive manner. Loud hailers operated in the exclusion zone. Employees photographed. Protestors continually trespassed out of the DPA. Obstruction of vehicles entering and leaving the site.
Under the heading "animal rights prisoners" SHAC states that Sarah Whitehead, Gavin Medd-Hall and Heather Nicholson have all received custodial sentences for criminal actions carried out in connection with the campaign against HLS. (SHAC website).
Luke Steele and Jonathan White convicted of criminal offences arising out of action against Harlan UK.
New facebook page opened by Arun Mathai called NAVA: OPERATION HARLAN, encouraging action against Harlan.
Luke Steele sentenced to 18 months imprisonment; Jonathan White 7 months suspended for 18 months. ASBO's imposed. Luke Steele held out by ALF and ALFSG as one of their prisoners.
Observer article about Harlan Blackthorn entitled "Inside the lab where animal testing staff live in fear". "Science editor Robert McKie gains rare access to the beleaguered lab where rats and mice are bred for essential medical research….The twin gates topped with razor wire and spikes, would do justice to a prison…One female Harlan worker told the Observer: "When you arrived in the morning you would have to queue for up to five minutes to get through the gates. Their loudhailers were deafening. They would scream at you that you were a puppy killer and would bang on your car. It was horrible, I was left shaking for hours afterwards. A male colleague was equally affected: "It is part of their methodology to equate animal work with paedophilia. If they find out your name, you will appear on their website as a paedophile… Another Harlan worker found out that his neighbours had all been sent notes claiming that he was a rapist."
Protesting activities by 5 protestors who hide in the bushes aside the front gates in breach of the order. No notice given. Two protestors walked around the side perimeter fence. Employees entering and leaving the site were harassed.
Protesting activities by 4 protestors who positioned themselves at the front gate in breach of the order. No notice given. Subsequently 2 protestors walked around the perimeter fence before returning to the front gate.
A vehicle driven by a female contractor was surrounded and loud hailers operated against her at close range.
National march against Harlan. Demonstrators demand the closure of the Harlan laboratories in the UK.
Protesting activities by 11 protestors. 3 individuals arrested for alleged breach of the injunction including Aran Mathai and Rachel Mathai for using loud hailers in the DPA and Edmund Mails for an unknown offence.