Verderben
09-16-2005, 11:12 PM
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/huntingdon/2005/09/16/286743ba-a073-47af-bdeb-6267caf88acc.lpf
Firm wins court ban on animal rights protests
DHL has lived up to its speedy reputation in making a dash to the High Court to protect its 18,000 staff from harassment at the hands of animal rights protesters.
The court heard the giant courier company is concerned for the safety of its workers after it appeared on protesters' "target list" because of its commercial links with Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS).
DHL's lawyer, Tim Lawson- Cruttenden, said others connected with HLS - including banks, insurance and pharmaceutical companies - had suffered "terrorism" at the hands of campaigners, including roof-top protests, office invasions, vandalism, arson, bomb hoaxes and bombardment with abusive mail and phone calls.
Individual employees could not feel safe, with their names and addresses emblazoned on campaign websites and protesters targeting their homes, smashing windows and pouring paint stripper on their cars, he added.
There had already been some incidents involving DHL, including vandalism of vehicles and protesters targeting directors' homes.
After a full day of legal arguments, Judge Mr Justice Bean, issued an interim injunction forbidding protesters from harassing, intimidating or pestering DHL staff, their families or those who visit the company's premises.
The judge also threw up 40-metre "exclusion zones" around all the 288 sites operated by DHL in England and Wales where even peaceful protests would not be permitted.
Campaigners must also give police four hours notice if they intend encroaching within 140 metres of DHL premises and are also banned from going within 100 metres of the homes of DHL staff and "protected persons".
Any breach of the injunction will be a contempt of court, punishable by imprisonment as a last resort.
The injunction was granted with the consent of Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC), and named individuals. SHAC denies any involvement in, or encouragement of, unlawful protests.
DHL is also seeking injunctions against the Animal Liberation Front and other protest groups, along with Keith Mann, from Poole, Dorset, who is currently in prison for contempt of court and a raid on a laboratory in which 700 mice were stolen. These were adjourned for a hearing on another day.
■ Last week HLS was forced out of a planned flotation on the New York stock market after threats from animal rights activists. Brian Cass, HLS chief executive, was on the trading floor when the announcement was made.
Firm wins court ban on animal rights protests
DHL has lived up to its speedy reputation in making a dash to the High Court to protect its 18,000 staff from harassment at the hands of animal rights protesters.
The court heard the giant courier company is concerned for the safety of its workers after it appeared on protesters' "target list" because of its commercial links with Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS).
DHL's lawyer, Tim Lawson- Cruttenden, said others connected with HLS - including banks, insurance and pharmaceutical companies - had suffered "terrorism" at the hands of campaigners, including roof-top protests, office invasions, vandalism, arson, bomb hoaxes and bombardment with abusive mail and phone calls.
Individual employees could not feel safe, with their names and addresses emblazoned on campaign websites and protesters targeting their homes, smashing windows and pouring paint stripper on their cars, he added.
There had already been some incidents involving DHL, including vandalism of vehicles and protesters targeting directors' homes.
After a full day of legal arguments, Judge Mr Justice Bean, issued an interim injunction forbidding protesters from harassing, intimidating or pestering DHL staff, their families or those who visit the company's premises.
The judge also threw up 40-metre "exclusion zones" around all the 288 sites operated by DHL in England and Wales where even peaceful protests would not be permitted.
Campaigners must also give police four hours notice if they intend encroaching within 140 metres of DHL premises and are also banned from going within 100 metres of the homes of DHL staff and "protected persons".
Any breach of the injunction will be a contempt of court, punishable by imprisonment as a last resort.
The injunction was granted with the consent of Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC), and named individuals. SHAC denies any involvement in, or encouragement of, unlawful protests.
DHL is also seeking injunctions against the Animal Liberation Front and other protest groups, along with Keith Mann, from Poole, Dorset, who is currently in prison for contempt of court and a raid on a laboratory in which 700 mice were stolen. These were adjourned for a hearing on another day.
■ Last week HLS was forced out of a planned flotation on the New York stock market after threats from animal rights activists. Brian Cass, HLS chief executive, was on the trading floor when the announcement was made.