30 held in animal rights raids (From The Oxford Times)
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30 held in animal rights raids
10:00am Tuesday 1st May 2007 in News
POLICE investigating animal rights extremism made dozens of arrests after raiding homes across Britain today.
Officers 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.
Police said the people arrested are all suspected of being involved in criminal activity associated with animal rights extremism. All have been taken to undisclosed police stations across the country and will be interviewed throughout the day.
A spokesman for Hampshire Police said: "This is a regional police operation led by forces from the south east region and supported by a number of other UK police forces and European law enforcement agencies.
"Searches at the premises continue and officers are working with the local communities to minimise any disruption."
