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9:51pm Wednesday 30th May 2007
Fourteen animal rights campaigners walked free from court today after a judge condemned the police for unlawfully stopping their protest.
The protesters were all cleared of refusing police orders to break up the demonstration against Oxford University's animal research laboratory outside the Sheldonian Theatre at the Encaenia ceremony last July.
A tape-recording emerged during the trial of unguarded comments by officers, calling the campaigners from the Speak animal rights group "c****", saying they wanted to "prosecute the s*** out of them" and claiming the university was powerful.
The comments, caught on a dictaphone accidentally switched on inside an officer's pocket, led to Speak accusing the force and university of colluding to stifle their right to protest.
During last summer's protest, demonstrators refused to move from outside the Sheldonian Theatre, where the Encaenia ceremony was being held, under police powers known as section 14s, and instead sat down.
At Bicester Magistrates' Court, District Judge Deborah Wright cleared all 14 defendants of offences under section 14 of the Public Order Act.
But she found 70-year-old Pauline Broughton guilty of obstructing a police officer and Fran Cornwell guilty of assaulting a police officer - and gave them both absolute discharges.
Ms Wright said: "I find the (section 14) conditions were imposed unlawfully.
"Whoever was responsible for making the decision that this prosecution should proceed in light of the tape may well have made a serious error of judgment."
She added: "Although the (taped) conversations were made away from the public, all the officers were on duty. Pc (Colin) Travi accepted he had referred to them (the protesters) as c****."
He was also recorded saying "the problem is the protesters do not realise how powerful the university is - it's a sleeping giant".
Pc Andy Bignall was recorded saying: "We knew we were going to take bodies today."
Supt Chris Shead said: "Now we have to prosecute the s*** out of them."
And Ms Wright added Chief Insp Chris Sharp admitted the measures they imposed were "draconian".
Ms Wright said the protesters had been put under a "metaphoric microscope" by police.
Outside court, Speak spokesman Mel Broughton said: "I am extremely angry and disturbed about what has been revealed of the attitude of Thames Valley Police.
"I think anyone in the country who believes you have a right to protest and a right to free speech should be very, very concerned."
Referring to police comments about Oxford University, he added: "These two extremely powerful institutions are prepared to get into bed with each other to frustrate lawful protest."
Thames Valley Police Deputy Chief Constable Alex Marshall said: "I have listened to what the judge has had to say and I take her comments very seriously and will now review this case to see whether there are any disciplinary matters that need to be dealt with.
"There are comments on the tape that I find very regrettable and I find some of the comments unprofessional. I will take careful note of what the judge has said and see if there are any matters which arise from it."
Referring to the comments about Oxford University, he added: "Those are the comments of a constable after an operation. There's no collusion."
A spokesman for Oxford University said: "While we are in regular dialogue with the police, operational matters are entirely within their jurisdiction, and are not a matter for the university."
Kit, Oxford says...
5:37am Thu 31 May 07
Maria wrote:Albeit unprofessionally, they are saying what most people in Oxford are thinking - that the harassment and intimidation used by SPEAK et al has gone on long enough. People are dying every day because animal rights nutters make finding new drugs so difficult - but you won't find that in any of their sob-story propoganda.
Thames Valley police should be utterly ashamed of themselves, instead of making pathetic excuses. They are supposed to 'uphold the law', instead they're just abusive bully -boys!!!
James, Oxford says...
8:04am Thu 31 May 07
bill gates, Seattle says...
8:41am Thu 31 May 07
Nelson, Capetown says...
8:45am Thu 31 May 07
Tony Brett, Oxford says...
9:09am Thu 31 May 07
Maria wrote:Yes Maria (who I note is in London, not Oxford). The Police did make some errors of judgement this time. They are humans just like you and me. I'm sure those in power will do all they can to ensure things are handled better next time.
Thames Valley police should be utterly ashamed of themselves, instead of making pathetic excuses. They are supposed to 'uphold the law', instead they're just abusive bully -boys!!!
Laraine Santagato, CA USA says...
9:19am Thu 31 May 07
Phil Gale, Oxford says...
9:42am Thu 31 May 07
Charlie, Bedford and Oxford says...
9:43am Thu 31 May 07
Charlie, Bedford and Oxford says...
9:45am Thu 31 May 07
Sue, Cambridge says...
9:59am Thu 31 May 07
Emma, Cornwall says...
10:39am Thu 31 May 07
Dog bottler, Kidlington says...
11:16am Thu 31 May 07
Oh really?, says...
11:33am Thu 31 May 07
Paul, Oxford says...
11:34am Thu 31 May 07
David, Oxford says...
1:27pm Thu 31 May 07
jamie, cumnor says...
2:19pm Thu 31 May 07
Anon, Oxford says...
2:21pm Thu 31 May 07
Paul, Oxford says...
2:31pm Thu 31 May 07
Andy, says...
2:44pm Thu 31 May 07
Kit, Oxford says...
2:51pm Thu 31 May 07
Andy wrote:Ah, yes. Nothing like not intimidating builders and innocent members of the public, committing arson, stalking people trying to do their jobs and putting back medical science by decades to make you an immoral (I assume not amoral - even poor morals count!) low life.
The only reason you Oxford people find SPEAK annoying is because they remind you what a bunch of amoral hypocritical low life you are.
Anon and on, Oxford says...
3:00pm Thu 31 May 07
annnnon, Oxford says...
3:09pm Thu 31 May 07
Emma, Cornwall says...
3:19pm Thu 31 May 07
Paul, Oxford says...
3:36pm Thu 31 May 07
James, Cornwall says...
3:51pm Thu 31 May 07
Anon...again!, Oxford says...
3:57pm Thu 31 May 07
Jade, Oxford says...
4:07pm Thu 31 May 07
David Mitchell, London says...
4:52pm Thu 31 May 07
Dawn, USA says...
4:59pm Thu 31 May 07
jim fontaine, portland says...
5:45pm Thu 31 May 07
Stu, Oxon says...
6:17pm Thu 31 May 07
Tracey, London says...
6:18pm Thu 31 May 07
Clare, Cambridge says...
6:26pm Thu 31 May 07
Robin, Oxford says...
6:32pm Thu 31 May 07
Stu wrote:YES I can honestly say I wouldn't. Chemo and radiation don't work! They'll kill you before the cancer will. I would go to Mexico and be treated by some real doctors who know the cure for cancer and it ISN'T drugs.
Can any of the anti animal testing people on here honestly say hand on
heart that should they be struck down by cancer or any other life
threatening disease that they would not take the prescribed drugs?
S. Pearl, London says...
6:37pm Thu 31 May 07
Billie, Oxford says...
6:38pm Thu 31 May 07
Kit, Oxford says...
6:39pm Thu 31 May 07
Clare wrote:- Vaccinations, discovered by testing sheep with antrax.
There seem to be a few people who are under the missconception that animal experiments save lives/produce cures. If they actually took a leaflet and read it they might learn that they have fallen for the rubbish these people promote. Not ONE cure has ever or will ever be found by experimenting on animals. Get that through your thick heads!!
Terry, Bicester says...
6:48pm Thu 31 May 07
jamie wrote:And thats just typical of a vivisectionists mentality! Actually all drugs ARE tested on humans. No-one has any idea how a drug is going to affect a human after it has been tested on animals and drug companies have been caught out many times testing their disgusting wares on orphans and third world children.
ive got an easy answer to do away with animal testing use all the
terrorists from speak instead tha would kill two birds with one stone
stop them harrassing normal people and save tne animals at the same
time sorted!!!!!!
Sophie, Oxfordshire says...
6:55pm Thu 31 May 07
Oh really? wrote:Emma do you realise that no ones been killed by anyone from animal rights... but 4 Animal Rights people have been killed by the animal abusers! Quite telling eh?
Emma, if you want to stop being treated like terrorists then stop behaving like terrorists. Stop sending letter bombs. Stop burning buildings down. Stop vandalizing cars. Stop threatening builders. It's really very simple.
Eric, Los Angeles, CA says...
7:07pm Thu 31 May 07
Kit wrote:
Maria wrote:Albeit unprofessionally, they are saying what most people in Oxford are thinking - that the harassment and intimidation used by SPEAK et al has gone on long enough. People are dying every day because animal rights nutters make finding new drugs so difficult - but you won\'t find that in any of their sob-story propoganda.
Thames Valley police should be utterly ashamed of themselves, instead of making pathetic excuses. They are supposed to \'uphold the law\', instead they\'re just abusive bully -boys!!!
If you love animals that\'s fine - just don\'t try and impose your morality onto me.
People are dying every day because animal rights nutters make finding new drugs so difficult - but you won't find that in any of their sob-story propoganda.You need to read up on this subject a bit more. Animal experimentation has delayed development of certain drugs and, in fact, has lead to assumptions that resulted in harm to humans. You can find this all in the public domain, including stories in major British newspapers.
Clare, Cambridge says...
7:10pm Thu 31 May 07
Kit wrote:Insulin was held up for years because they could not induce it in animals it was only discovered when he tried testing it on himself and friends.
Clare wrote: There seem to be a few people who are- Vaccinations, discovered by
under the missconception that animal experiments save lives/produce
cures. If they actually took a leaflet and read it they might learn
that they have fallen for the rubbish these people promote. Not ONE
cure has ever or will ever be found by experimenting on animals. Get
that through your thick heads!!
testing sheep with antrax.
- Insulin, isolated from and tested on dogs.
- Multi-drug leprosy treatment, tested on armadillos.
There\'s three off the top of my head which have saved and dramatically
improved the quality of life for millions of people. Thousands of drugs
we use every day are tested on animals to ensure they are safe.
Kit, Oxford says...
7:15pm Thu 31 May 07
James, Oxford says...
7:28pm Thu 31 May 07
Kelly, Oxford says...
7:50pm Thu 31 May 07
Chenli, says...
7:52pm Thu 31 May 07
Chenli, says...
7:56pm Thu 31 May 07
Simon, Oxford says...
9:44pm Thu 31 May 07
Pat, Cambridge says...
10:38pm Thu 31 May 07
Steven McLean, Leeds says...
9:10am Fri 1 Jun 07
watcher, england says...
9:21am Fri 1 Jun 07
Mary Alice Pollard, Cornwall's Voice for Animals UK, Cornwall UK says...
10:06am Fri 1 Jun 07
Pat wrote:I couldn't agree more and I sincerely hope the police involved are brought to book for their actions - Police - their job is to stop violence not start it !
The derogatory and abusive comments from the pro-vivisection lobby is only to be expected since vivisection is based on violence and intimidation of the defenceless. SPEAK are leading the way towards a more caring and humane society for both animals and people in the same way as those who fought past injustices. But as Einstein said 'Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds'. OH!AND, OF COURSE, VESTED INTERESTS.
George Turner, Rumble says...
11:08am Fri 1 Jun 07
Andrew Capp, Manchester says...
4:49pm Fri 1 Jun 07
Phil Senior, Sussex says...
7:53pm Fri 1 Jun 07
Phil Senior, Sussex says...
8:09pm Fri 1 Jun 07
Rossith, says...
10:51pm Fri 1 Jun 07
James wrote:its funny how the majority of testing on animals doesnt help at all though isnt it. People who dont agree with an animal dying every 12 seconds because of vivisection in the u.k. alone have a right to speak out against it, just as you would have the right to speak out against something you feel morally wrong. Before you make assumptions on what you think vivisection is like please visit www.buav.org and actually read up about it.
I think the police were right to arrest them. Criminals are getting away with too much these days thanks to human rights act. This protest is getting silly now, I'm sure that if one of these monkeys they test on finds a cure for a disease that has effected them in some shape or form, they will take the drug. And as for the police being "bully boys", SPEAK are THE bully boys. Yes they can have their view, dont force it down peoples throats as if its right!!
tinkle, oxford says...
3:00am Sat 2 Jun 07
Steph, 659-572 says...
7:08pm Sun 3 Jun 07
Stu wrote:Perhaps if animal testing wasn't holding back progress I wouldn't have watched my mother die of cancer. Animal testing kills people. There has been no medical advance made by animal testing that would not have been made sooner without it. Penicillin has saved countless lives, it was not tested on animals and if it had been tested on Guinea pigs, it would have been found to be toxic, and all those lives would not have been saved.
Can any of the anti animal testing people on here honestly say hand on heart that should they be struck down by cancer or any other life threatening disease that they would not take the prescribed drugs?
Kathy, UK says...
5:04pm Mon 4 Jun 07
Martin, London says...
6:39pm Mon 4 Jun 07
Dr einar thorrson, Sweden says...
10:08am Tue 5 Jun 07
Kit wrote:I guess this person is not aware that 96% of drugs passed as safe in animal testing fail in the human animal!
Maria wrote: Thames Valley police should be utterly ashamed of themselves, instead of making pathetic excuses. They are supposed to \'uphold the law\', instead they\'re just abusive bully -boys!!!Albeit unprofessionally, they are saying what most people in Oxford are thinking - that the harassment and intimidation used by SPEAK et al has gone on long enough. People are dying every day because animal rights nutters make finding new drugs so difficult - but you won\'t find that in any of their sob-story propoganda. If you love animals that\'s fine - just don\'t try and impose your morality onto me.
Heather, USA says...
10:07pm Tue 5 Jun 07
Em, Sussex says...
2:23pm Thu 7 Jun 07
james, Bristol says...
11:07pm Fri 8 Jun 07
Mark, England says...
4:38am Sat 9 Jun 07
terry chandler, says...
1:13am Sun 10 Jun 07
Simon wrote:well said young man,you said what i wanted to say. there's nothing more to add.
If you look beyond all the pro/anti viv stuff then some people might just notice the disdain with which the police generally view any kind of protest. This is why I'm happy with the result, even thought I don't agree with SPEAK. I don't know how many of the people posting have been on protests of any kind, be it anti viv, anti war (or just pro cycling, like critical mass), but my experience is that in the main the Police are complete w*nkers, regardless of the type of protest. They don't like protesters and the sooner we all went home and stopped messing up their streets the better. I've regularly seen them try to intimidate and/or provoke peaceable members of the public for no apparent good reason - I once witnessed a crowd of 400 cyclists transformed from jovial and happy to angry and on the verge of rioting in under 30seconds because of that sort of policing, but it never gets reported.. Likewise when they smash someone in the face with their baton, no-one seems to wonder if the protester really deserved it. I have no doubt that there are nice coppers (I've met a few on various protests) but in the main they're pretty bad. So one in the eye for the police state gets a big thumbs up from me, even if it means a victory for idiots like SPEAK.
Steven McLean, says...
3:31pm Mon 25 Jun 07
Tracey wrote:Well said Tracy ..
Seems like there's one person here from pro-test posting lots of comments and can't even spell. Just goes to show how intelligent they are! If they want to post a descent scientific website its NOT pro-test! Hahahahahaa They wouldn't know their arse from their elbow.
The Speak protest which led to the court case
The protesters after the court case
Deputy Chief Constable Alex Marshall
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Maria, London says...
12:39am Thu 31 May 07