Latest news
NEW 19 November 2008
Four arrested in connection with leaflet distribution
Four people have been arrested this morning in connection with an investigation into the distribution of leaflets in Lancashire which claim Muslims are responsible for the heroin trade.
UPDATED 6 November 2008
Jury discharged in animal rights case
A 48-year-old Northampton man is expected to face a new trial next year in relation to a campaign against Oxford University.
4 November 2008
Street collector jailed for fraud
An animal rights campaigner who pocketed thousands of pounds from street collections was today jailed at Stafford Crown Court.
24 October 2008
Two convicted, eight cleared in trespass trial
Two people have been found guilty of aggravated trespass at Southern Derbyshire magistrates court.
16 August 2008
Police arrest 33 people following protests at Denby in Derbyshire
Thirty three people have been arrested today (Saturday, August 16) following protests against the British National Party's Red, White and Blue event at Denby in Derbyshire.
11 August 2008
Kent Police thanks Hoo residents for their patience during climate camp
Kent Police would like to express its gratitude to the residents of the Hoo Peninsula as the climate camp protests at Kingsnorth come to an end.
9 August 2008
Fifty arrested during river rescue and scuffles - but protesters fail to close down power station
Around 50 people were arrested in disturbances today as climate camp protesters attempted to carry out their threat to break into Kingsnorth Power Station, near Hoo.
8 August 2008
River byelaw used to stop climate camp raft regatta because of safety concerns
Kent Police is to advise climate camp protestors in Kingsnorth that the raft regatta they had planned for Saturday (9 August) cannot go ahead because of safety concerns.
7 August 2008
Kent Police extends stop and search powers in climate camp operation
Officers' discretionary powers to stop and search people have been extended as part of the operation to police the climate camp.
7 August 2008
Climate camp: arrests update
Kent Police has confirmed 22 people have been arrested in connection with the climate camp protest and fourteen have been charged.
6 August 2008
Police officers hold talks with climate camp liaison team
A team of Kent Police officers met with community residents of the climate camp this morning as part of continuing efforts to resolve mutual issues of concern.
5 August 2008
Stash of knives and weapons found near climate camp protest site
Kent Police has discovered a stash of knives and makeshift weapons that could cause serious injuries during searches close to the site of the climate camp protest.
1 August 2008
Animal rights extremist receives community order
An animal rights extremist was sentenced at Winchester Crown Court to 80 hours community service today.
30 June 2008
Animal rights extremist found guilty of burglary
An animal rights extremist has been sentenced to 24 months in prison after being found guilty of burglary at Canterbury Crown Court today.
13 June 2008
Terror campaign postman receives four year prison sentence.
Operation Ryan finally concluded today, six years after the long series of offences began, as Jefferson Azevedo was given a four year prison sentence at Southwark Crown Court.
5 June 2008
Man pleads guilty to charges of planting a hoax bomb and sending white powder letters
After appearing at Southwark Crown Court today, a 45-year-old Portsmouth man pleaded guilty to 19 offences, which related to sending a number of letters, some containing a harmless white powder and others having racist content and also to planting a hoax bomb in a public place.
30 May 2008
Sequani campaign protestors receive sentences
Two men have been sentenced at Coventry Crown Court today for their part in animal rights protests which took place in the West Mercia Constabulary force area.
22 May 2008
Animal rights extremist receives suspended prison sentence
An animal rights extremist was given a suspended prison sentence after appearing at Preston Crown Court today.
21 April 2008
Animal rights extremist pleads guilty in court
After entering a plea of guilty, the case against an animal rights extremist was adjourned for pre sentence reports at Preston Crown Court today.
19 March 2008
Six people charged in Operation Achilles
Police have today charged a further six people during the latest stage of an ongoing operation to disrupt animal rights extremism across the UK.
13 March 2008
Man charged following investigation into hoax bomb and white powder letters
After an extensive police investigation, a 45-year-old Portsmouth man has been charged with 19 offences, which relate to sending a number of letters, some containing a white powder and others having racist content and also planting a hoax bomb in a public place.
7 February 2008
Sentence reduced for animal rights extremist
An animal rights extremist has had a two-year prison sentenced reduced to nine months after the original sentence was reviewed at Leeds Crown Court on Monday of this week.
1 February 2008
Animal rights extremist sentenced to prison
An animal rights extremist was sentenced to two years' imprisonment after appearing at Leeds Crown Court today.
21 January 2008
King's lynn man sentenced following supermarket contamination claim
A King's Lynn man was jailed today after previously pleading guilty to a claim of placing contaminated goods on the shelves of a West Norfolk supermarket.
18 January 2008
Three arrested as part of ongoing animal extremism investigation
Police have today arrested three people in the latest stage of an ongoing operation targeting animal rights extremism across the UK.
14 January 2008
Animal rights blackmailer sentence increased
An animal rights extremist who bombarded companies and individuals with threats, today saw her sentence lengthened to two years.
14 December 2007
Animal rights activist charged in connection with attacks on Oxford University
A 47-year-old Northampton man will appear before Banbury Magistrates' Court today (Friday), charged with offences relating to an alleged campaign against Oxford University.
20 November 2007
Operation Achilles - police charge sixteenth person
A sixteenth person has been charged as part of Operation Achilles, a South East Regional police operation targeting animal rights extremism.
16 November 2007
Jail for animal rights blackmailer
An animal rights extremist who bombarded companies and individuals with threats was today jailed for eight months.
7 November 2007
Animal rights extremist convicted of blackmail
Animal rights extremist Suzanne Jaggers was convicted of blackmail earlier today after a five-day hearing at Bradford Crown Court.
26 October 2007
Operation Achilles - activists remain in custody after hearing
A two day hearing concluded today at Winchester Crown Court after the custody time limits for Greg Avery and Heather Nicholson were reviewed and extended to 20 December 2007.
17 October 2007
Animal rights activist pleads guilty in court
Deborah Morrison, aged 35, from Dorchester in Dorset, appeared at Stafford Crown Court yesterday where she pleaded guilty to twelve charges brought against her by a combined police force investigation.
28 September 2007
Animal rights extremism - activist sentenced after email campaign
An animal rights extremist who sent threatening emails to staff at Huntingdon Life Sciences and other organisations linked to the company has been sentenced to 5 months in prison at Peterborough Crown Court.
UPDATED 27 September 2007
Anti-fur campaigning - activist receives suspended prison sentence
An animal rights activist who participated in a series of anti-fur demonstrations has been convicted of harassment.
UPDATED 21 September 2007
Operation Achilles - provisional trial date set
A pre trial hearing took place yesterday at Birmingham Crown Court for ten people who are charged with conspiracy to blackmail, after previously being arrested as part of Operation Achilles.
7 September 2007
Three animal rights activists acquitted after protest at veterinary surgery
Kate Louise Jones, Katrina Somers and Laura Tomlinson appeared at Chester Crown Court to appeal an earlier conviction under Section 4 of the Public Order Act 1986.
UPDATED 17 August 2007
Operation Achilles - three charged with burglary
Three people have been charged following the theft of a beagle dog from a residential address in Deal, Kent in March 2007.
UPDATED 15 August 2007
Man appears in court following threat to supermarket
A 53-year-old man appeared before King's Lynn Magistrates' Court today charged with an offence under the Public Order Act 1986. The charge relates to a threat made to Morrisons supermarket in King's Lynn on Friday 10 August 2007.
UPDATED 15 August 2007
Animal rights activist receives ASBO for sending indecent articles by post
An animal rights activist who sent a dead animal and a dead bird to two companies has been given an ASBO by Sheffield Crown Court.
2 July 2007
Animal rights campaign refused permission to hold street collections in Sunderland
Sunderland City Council have refused an application to hold street collections for the Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC) campaign.
15 June 2007
Three animal rights activists convicted after protest at veterinary surgery
Kate Louise Jones, Katrina Somers and Laura Tomlinson were found guilty by Chester, Ellesmere Port and Neston Magistrates' Court of an offence under Section 4 of the Public Order Act 1986. They were all given Community Orders with costs and compensation.
13 June 2007
Animal rights activist sentenced after fur protest conviction
Animal rights activist David Crouch was sentenced by Bath Magistrates' Court today following a conviction under Section 4 of the Public Order Act 1986. He was given a 120-hour Community Order and ordered to pay £300 costs.
5 June 2007
Farm fire near Abingdon - police investigate animal rights claim
Thames Valley Police officers are investigating a fire at a farm in Appleton, near Abingdon, Oxfordshire, last month and are looking into claims being made by animal rights activists that they were responsible.
5 May 2007
Operation Achilles - twelfth person charged
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) have authorised police to charge a woman with the offence of conspiracy to blackmail.
4 May 2007
1800hrs - Operation Achilles - update
Two people charged with conspiracy to blackmail have been remanded in custody. Magistrates also granted police more time to interview a 40-year old woman arrested yesterday.
3 May 2007
1900 hrs - Animal rights extremism - 2 charged, 1 arrested
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) have authorised police to charge two further people with offences of conspiracy to blackmail. One other person has been arrested.
2 May 2007
1930 hrs - Animal rights extremism - 9 people charged
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) have authorised police to charge seven people with offences of conspiracy to blackmail and two others with individual offences of blackmail.
2 May 2007
Animal rights extremism - 17 people remain in custody
Seventeen (17) people remain in custody following the coordinated police operation against animal rights extremism that began yesterday. Fourteen (14) other people who were arrested yesterday have been released on police bail. One man has been released without charge.
1 May 2007
1330 hrs - Animal rights extremism arrests - media conference statement
A Word document of the statement given by Assistant Chief Constable Steve Watts of Hampshire Constabulary and Assistant Chief Constable Adrian Leppard of Kent Police delivered earlier today at the media conference can be downloaded by clicking on the title of this news item.
1 May 2007
1640 hrs - Animal rights extremism - police arrest 32 people
Police have now arrested 32 people after executing warrants to enter and search premises in Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey, Sussex, Kent, Glasgow, Greater London, Merseyside, Worcestershire, Lancashire, Northumbria, Yorkshire, South Wales, Belgium and the Netherlands.
1 May 2007
0630 hrs - Animal rights extremism - police execute warrants in the UK and Europe
Police officers are executing warrants to enter and search premises at over thirty (30) addresses throughout the UK and in Europe.
1 May 2007
0830 hrs - Animal rights extremism - police arrest 30 people
Police have so far arrested 30 people after executing a number of warrants to enter and search premises in Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey, Sussex, Kent, Greater London, Merseyside, Worcestershire, Lancashire, Northumbria, Yorkshire, Belgium and the Netherlands this morning.
11 April 2007
Animal rights activist sentenced after DNA match
DNA technology has linked an animal rights extremist to threatening letters more than two years after they were sent.
26 March 2007
Animal rights activist convicted over High Court injunction breach
AN ANIMAL rights activist who breached a High Court injunction limiting protest activity at Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS) has been given a 12 month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £200 towards prosecution costs.
15 March 2007
Yoxall grave desecration enquiry - sentences upheld
Staffordshire Police has welcomed a decision by the Court of Appeal in London this morning to uphold 12-year prison sentences given to three animal rights extremists.
6 March 2007
Three SHAC activists sentenced at the Old Bailey
Three animal rights activists from the Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC) campaign have been sentenced to a total of 7 years and 9 months imprisonment today at the Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey) after admitting conspiring to harm the animal research organisation Huntingdon Life Sciences.
UPDATED 1 March 2007
Staffordshire Police arrest two people in relation to blackmail offences linked to animal rights extremism.
Officers from Staffordshire Police's Public Order and Protest Unit arrested two people this morning in Dorset, as part of an ongoing investigation into a series of blackmail offences linked to animal rights extremism.
22 February 2007
OPERATION HANSEL- MAN CHARGED WITH TWELVE OFFENCES
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) have authorised police to charge a man with twelve offences relating to postal improvised explosive devices.
21 February 2007
OPERATION HANSEL - UPDATE
UPDATE 1730hrs 21 February 2007 - Police have been given a second additional day to interview a man from Cambridge, arrested on Monday in connection with a police investigation into a series of postal improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
20 February 2007
Animal rights activists cleared of public order offence
Two animal rights activists have each been cleared of a public order offence by Blackpool Magistrates' Court.
20 February 2007
Humberside Police arrest four in connection with unlawful animal rights activities.
A pre-planned operation was carried out today (Tuesday 20 February 2007) to investigate alleged offences committed under Section 145 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005.
19 February 2007
OPERATION HANSEL - UPDATE
Police carry out forensic search at a residential address in Cambridgeshire.
10 February 2007
OPERATION HANSEL - UPDATE
Police have eliminated a 48-year old man from Wokingham, Berkshire from their inquiries.
9 February 2007
Darley Oaks Farm campaign - man pleads guilty to blackmail
A man has pleaded guilty to blackmail offences committed in connection with the six-year animal rights campaign against Darley Oaks Farm in Newchurch, near Burton, Staffordshire.
9 February 2007
OPERATION HANSEL - UPDATE
Statement to media at 1400hrs by ACC Anton Setchell, ACPO National Coordinator for Domestic Extremism (NCDE).
7 February 2007
SUSPECT PACKAGES - UPDATE
Text of statement by ACC Anton Setchell, ACPO National Coordinator for Domestic Extremism, 1600hrs 7 February 2007.
6 February 2007
Suspect package received in Berkshire
Thames Valley Police are investigating a suspect package received in Wokingham, Berkshire on Tuesday 6th February 2006.
19 January 2007
Thames Valley Police link three suspect packages
Detectives in Thames Valley are now investigating a third package, sent to a company in the West Midlands, and are linking it to incidents in Oxfordshire yesterday.
18 January 2007
Animal rights extremism 'priority line of enquiry' in suspect packages case
Detectives from Thames Valley Police investigating an incident in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, on Thursday 18 January 2007 believe there is a strong possibility that a device received by a company in Blacklands Way was sent by animal rights extremists.
22 December 2006
SHAC activists admit conspiracy offences
Three animal rights activists from the Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC) campaign have admitted conspiring to harm the animal research organisation Huntingdon Life Sciences.
13 December 2006
Law Lords rule police violate freedom of expression
Campaigners have won a legal battle to prove their rights to protest were violated when police stopped them from attending an anti-war demonstration.
7 December 2006
Animal rights extremist given indeterminate prison sentence
A 40-year-old man has been sent to prison after being caught trying to firebomb a house in Caversham, Reading.
