Save the Newchurch Guinea Pigs

Save the Newchurch Guinea Pigs (SNGP) was a six-year campaign by British animal rights activists to close a farm in Newchurch, Staffordshire that bred guinea pigs for animal research. The owners, three brothers trading as David Hall and Partners, announced in August 2005 that they were closing the business as a result of the pressure from activists, which included harassment, damage to property, and threats of physical violence.

Set up in 1999, the campaign became notorious in October 2004 when the remains of Christopher Hall's mother-in-law were removed from her grave in St Peter's churchyard, Yoxall, an act condemned by several animal rights groups, including Save the Newchurch Guinea Pigs itself. The BBC and Burton Mail newspaper received correspondence in April 2005 signed the Animal Rights Militia claiming responsibility.

Background

Save the Newchurch Guinea Pigs (SNGP) was started in 1999 after an Animal Liberation Front raid on the farm, during which 600 guinea pigs were removed. Video footage of the farm showed dirty, barren, crowded conditions inside the breeding sheds, as well as unhealthy and dying guinea pigs.

The campaign

Regular demonstrations took place on the roadside near the farm. The campaign published the contact details of people connected to the farm, from the owners and their family to the businesses that traded with them, and the local public houses that the Hall family frequented. Campaigners were urged to contact anyone associated with the farm, however loosely, and pressure them to end the relationship, a tactic known as secondary and tertiary targeting.

The targets received thousands of profane, threatening and insulting telephone calls, emails and letters, including false allegations of rape. Their dustbins were knocked, fireworks were let off near the house in the middle of the night, and graffiti was sprayed on their property and around the village. Police logged over 450 separate criminal acts over a two-year period.

Removal of remains

In October 2004, the remains of Christopher Hall's mother-in-law, Gladys Hammond, were taken from her grave in St Peter's churchyard, Yoxall. Several animal liberation groups, including SPEAK and the Newchurch campaign itself, publicly condemned the desecration.

Intimidation

On 22 September 2006, John Smith's girlfriend, Madeline Buckler, was sentenced to two years in jail for "intimidation of people connected with an animal research organisation," a charge introduced under the Serious and Organised Crime Act 2005. Buckler was found to have sent the Halls menacing letters in November 2005.

Notes

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References

Injunction against animal rights activists could lead to five years in prison if contravened.
Home-made bomb designer arrested.
Petrol bomb sent to home.
Minority of protestors agree to limit protests.
DVLA insider, Barry Saul Dickinson aged 34, who helped protestors find farm worker addresses gets five months.
Animal rights people lob fireworks at someones house at 2am in the morning.
Animal rights activists spread malicious rumours that a fuel supplier is a paedophile.
Worried cleaner leaves her farm job.
Tony Blair is no friend of animal rights protestors.
Protestors disrupted annual event at nearby golf club.
Protestor jailed for a month.
Protestors' website is closed by Staffordshire Police.
Arson attack at farm nearly kills firefighters.
Workers house is vandalised.
Protestors paint the countryside red.
Farm cleaner has bricks thrown through her windows.
Bomb attack on houses close to farm cleaner.
Farm worker harassed for two years.
Protestors orchestrate mass posting of complaint letters to Staffordshire Police with false addresses.
Men admit farm blackmail charges.
"Four animal rights activists jailed", Press Association, May 11, 2006
"Second animal rights extremist sentenced under new SOCPA legislation", The National Extremism Tactical Coordination Unit, September 22, 2006.
BBC News: In pictures - Protest in Newchurch
:Jail for animal rights extremists

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