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a few {{cn}}s. Reliable third party sources are required - we cannot use SHAC or the ALF as sources on anything but themselves.
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{{Proposed deletion/dated
|concern = This article was previously deleted under the following rationale. I see absolutely nothing that has changed since then: ''A rabbit breeder that made the mistake of selling rabbits for experimentation. Notable only for being the victim of a crime, which was reported only in the very local press. Such articles offer little but to publicize the crime, at most it deserves a line in the [[Animal Liberation Front|ALF]] article. Per [[Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Regal Rabbits]] and [[Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Consort Kennels]]''.
|timestamp = 20110116180414
}}

[[Image:Highgaterabbit.jpg|thumb|right|240px|One of the 129 rabbits removed from Highgate Farm by the ALF in 2008, with a [http://www.shac.net/news/2008/january/movies/rabbits.wmv video] of the raid sent to campaign group [[Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty|SHAC]].]]
[[Image:Highgaterabbit.jpg|thumb|right|240px|One of the 129 rabbits removed from Highgate Farm by the ALF in 2008, with a [http://www.shac.net/news/2008/january/movies/rabbits.wmv video] of the raid sent to campaign group [[Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty|SHAC]].]]


Revision as of 18:04, 16 January 2011

File:Highgaterabbit.jpg
One of the 129 rabbits removed from Highgate Farm by the ALF in 2008, with a video of the raid sent to campaign group SHAC.
This article is about Highgate Rabbit Farm. For Highgate Ostrich Show Farm, see Highgate Ostrich Show Farm.

Highgate Rabbit Farm, in the village of Normanby by Spital, Market Rasen, Lincolnshire is licensed by the Home Office to breed rabbits and ferrets for the research industry, including Huntingdon Life Sciences.[1] The farm has been a target of anti-vivisection campaigners, with actions including a raid by the Animal Liberation Front (ALF), an arson by the Militant Forces Against HLS (MFAH) and an ongoing campaign by Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC).[2][citation needed] Farm owner Geoff Douglas has said the attacks against his farm make him feel "sick", claiming to be animal orientated and providing "a very important job for the NHS". [citation needed] This has so far cost the farm, which also supplies rabbits for the meat industry, £100,000 in damages and £60,000 in security.[3][4][5][1][6]

Background

Previously closed breeders for animal testing:
  • After a ten-month campaign against Consort Kennels, which bred beagles for animal research, in 1997 the farm closed.[7] This consisted of daily protests, raids by the ALF and a national demonstration that turned in a riot, when protesters attemted to remove a dog from the premises.[8]
  • In 1999, Save the Hill Grove Cats was set up by Consort beagles campaigners against Hill Grove farm in Oxfordshire, which bred cats for laboratories, successfully closing the farm.[8] This resulted in 800 cats being removed by the RSPCA.[9][10]
  • Shamrock Farm, Britain's only non-human primate importation and quarantine centre, located in Small Dole, near Brighton in West Sussex, closed in 2000 after a BUAV investigation and a 15-month protest from "Save the Shamrock Monkeys", as well as the Animal Rights Militia (ARM)[11]
  • Save the Newchurch Guinea Pigs was set up in Staffordshire, against Darley Oaks Farm, who supplied guinea pigs for animal research, ending in May 2006 after a controversial grave desecration claimed by the Animal Rights Militia.[12] The BBC and Burton Mail newspaper received correspondence in April 2005 signed the Animal Rights Militia claiming responsibility.[13]

Incidents

ALF Raid

Furthermore information: Animal Liberation

on January 6, 2008, the Animal Liberation Front raided the farm and removed 129 rabbits. The owner said he was shocked and disappointed when discovering he had been burgled, citing concern for the rabbits which he believed would not survive in the wild and would be unsuitable as pets. [14] A quad bike, lawnmower, van and a sports car were also reported to have been paintstripped and glued, causing £100,000 worth of damage. The ALF said they carried out the raid to stop the rabbits being sold to laboratories such as Huntingdon Life Sciences and other universities in the United Kingdom.[15][16][1] Following the raid, in April 2009, the farm installed a £60,000 security system, in an attempt to deter potential intruders.[5]

Protest Camp

On July 27th 2009, half a dozen SHAC activists set up at protest camp 100 yards from the farm to escalate the campaign against the farm. A spokesperson for the campaign said that the camp intended to be peaceful and non-confrontational, which was to last until Friday, although activists reported remaining until the Sunday. The camp was a warm up for the national demonstration by SHAC in September, which was expected to attract around 500 campaigners.[4][17]

SHAC Protest

In September 2009, as part of a Global Week of Action Against Laboratory Animal Breeders, 400 campaigners from SHAC descended on the farm with placards including 'vivisection is vile' and 'does money justify murder', directed at owner Geoff Douglas. Over a hundred police officers were deployed from over five forces, although the day passed peacefull with no arrests made. The protest was hailed by SHAC as a success, bringing local people to the attention of the alledged 'immoral practices' of the breeders, and beginning an ongoing campaign.[18][6]

Van Arson

In July 2010 the Militant Forces Against HLS (MFAH), who's Austrian branch torched Novartis CEO's hunting lodge, burned a Mercedes Sprinter van left at the farm, competely destroying the vehicle.[19][20] Described as a warning, MFAH activists claimed they gathered information to use against the farm in the future, promising to return until the farmer "pulls out once and for all". In response Geoff Douglas said he runs a legitimate business, that most of the animals go to test vaccines for both humans and animals and believes he is saving tens of thousands of lives.[21]

Court Cases

In July 2008 a 22 year old man, Lewis Pogson, was arrested in Worthing by Sussex Police as part of an investigation into the ALF raid, which included searching the Friend Animal Sanctuary at East Peckham, near Paddock Wood, Kent.[22] He pleaded not guilty but was later found guilty of taking part in the raid and awaits sentencing.[23][24]

In October four more activists were arrested and accused of conspiracy to cause damage at Highgate Farm, including further charges of interfering with a contractual relationship so as to harm an animal research establishment and conspiracy. None of those accused were connected to the earlier ALF raid, but had links with SHAC. The prosecution claimed the activists were carrying out a “reconnaissance” to plan further criminal damage, designed to interfere with HLS' contract with the farm.[1][25] Victoria Waterhouse-Taylor was later found not guilty, after the judge stopped the case, as there was no evidence of damage caused to the farm.[26] In June 2009, the other three accused were given ASBO's, preventing them from the property.[27]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d Animal rights activists in court, Market Rasen, October 24th 2008.
  2. ^ Close Highgate Farm, Campaign Website, January 2011.
  3. ^ Rabbit farm raid accused 'impressionable', This Is Lincolnshire, May 1st 2009.
  4. ^ a b Protest Camp At Rabbit Farm, Market Rasen Mail, July 29th 2009.
  5. ^ a b Rabbit breeder 'felt sick' at campaign, This Is Lincolnshire, April 30th 2009.
  6. ^ a b Animal rights demo goes off peacefully, Market Rasen Mail, September 28th 2009.
  7. ^ Woolcock, Nicola. Extremists seek fresh targets close to home, The Times, August 25, 2005.
  8. ^ a b Mann, Keith. From Dusk 'til Dawn: An insider's view of the growth of the Animal Liberation Movement. Puppy Pincher Press, 2007, pp. 519-522.
  9. ^ Mann, Keith. From Dusk 'til Dawn: An insider's view of the growth of the Animal Liberation Movement. Puppy Pincher Press, 2007, p. 536.
  10. ^ Pallister, David. Embattled breeding farm closes, The Guardian, August 14, 1999.
  11. ^ Mann, Keith. From Dusk 'til Dawn: An insider's view of the growth of the Animal Liberation Movement. Puppy Pincher Press, 2007, p. 556.
  12. ^ "Police comb desecrated grave site", BBC News, October 9, 2004.
  13. ^ "British Animal Rights Protesters Admit Plotting Against Farmers", Reuters, April 11, 2007.
  14. ^ this is lincolnshire- news, entertainment, jobs, homes and cars 2008-02-19]
  15. ^ ALF Communique: 09/01/08 January 9th 2008.
  16. ^ VIDEO: 'Liberated' rabbits will die 2008-02-19[, Market Rasen Mail, February 14th 2008.
  17. ^ Protest Camp Set Up At Highgate Rabbit Farm, SHAC, July 27th 2009.
  18. ^ Farmer's fear over protesters' attacks, This Is Lincolnshire, September 28th 2009.
  19. ^ Mercedes van damaged in Lincolnshire farm arson attack, BBC, July 20th 2010.
  20. ^ Police investigate arson attack on van in science lab supplier's yard, This Is Lincolnshire, July 21st 2010.
  21. ^ Animal rights group claims responsibility for arson attack at Highgate Farm, This Is Lincolnshire, July 23rd 2010.
  22. ^ Arrest in 'animal liberation' burglary, Market Rasen, July 11th 2008.
  23. ^ Rabbit farm raid charges denied, Lincolnshire Echo, January 24th 2009.
  24. ^ Animal-rights campaigner guilty of rabbit farm raid, Kent & Sussex Courier, December 4th 2009.
  25. ^ Ulverston man joined raid on farm – court, North West Evening Mail, April 30th 2009.
  26. ^ Student cleared of rabbit farm raid, This Is Lincolnshire, May 8th 2009.
  27. ^ ASBOs for rabbit farm raiders, Lincolnshire Echo, June 17th 2009.
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