Wrongful Arrest Results in £30,000 Compensation Award to Protestors
Protestors wrongfully arrested by police
Ten animal rights protestors have collectively received £30,000 in compensation from Wiltshire Constabulary for wrongful arrest and detention in Police custody. The case revealed an ‘over-the-top’ approach by the Police towards animal welfare protestors, according to the protestors’ legal representative, Iftikhar Manzoor of national law firm Irwin Mitchell (IM).
On 27th October 2001, the protestors were involved in a peaceful protest against a pheasant shoot at Wansdyke Farm, Ham, near Marlborough. The protestors had approached the shooters and approximately two protestors had stopped next to each shooter. This is a traditional method for halting a shoot as according to gun-handling guidelines, a shooter must break his/her gun to make it safe if approached by a member of the public.
The shoot was already in the process of breaking for lunch and the protesters then decided to drive to a nearby hill, Coome Gibbet, to get a good view of the surrounding countryside in case the shoot decided to continue after lunch.
Robert Watson of Reading comments: “I had shooting pains in my back and legs as result of being handcuffed behind my back and being forced to the make the journey to the Police station on the floor of the van. It was really uncomfortable and totally unnecessary to treat me in that manner. The Police also made it extremely difficult for me to get my Land Rover back and it was only after lengthy negotiation with a Police officer that I was able to collect it that night.”
Dawn Varley of London comments: “I was totally amazed that the Police officer arresting me could not give a reason for my arrest but just that he had been told to do so. I was later astounded to hear that my arrest was in relation to an incident at a public house in Ham and that I was arrested on suspicion of assault. I had not been near a public house and clearly had not assaulted anyone.”
All the protestors were arrested on suspicion of Actual Body Harm (ABH) and handcuffed and taken to West Lea station in Swindon. After being interviewed, all were released and given a later bail date. This was subsequently postponed and then cancelled.
Iftikhar Manzoor from Irwin Mitchell comments: “Everyone in the UK has the right to peaceful protest but that was denied to my clients when they were wrongfully arrested. They were not properly informed of the grounds of their arrest and the custody sergeant did not apply his mind to the circumstances of the arrest and the provisions of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act. They were clearly deprived of their liberty and Wiltshire Police did admit liability.”