The Hunt Saboteurs Association (HSA) today announced its disappointment after a Suffolk policeman was cleared on 14 August of charges arising from an incident at a meet of the Essex and Suffolk Foxhounds at Chattisham near Ipswich in which a hunt saboteur was struck.
Pc Keith Warren, 48, who is based at Hadleigh, appeared before Ipswich magistrates to answer a charge of assault by beating. After a 2 day trial he was cleared of the charge.
HSA spokesperson Nathan Brown said "This outcome is yet another nail in the coffin of hunt saboteurs' trust in the legal system. We were surprised but glad that the case got this far, highlighting the overzealous behaviour of some police officers towards hunt saboteurs. We are extremely disappointed at the verdict, especially given that PC Warren's evidence was inconsistent with that provided by both prosecution and defence witnesses including his fellow officers in court. The court acknowledged that PC Warren lost his temper, pushed a saboteur with the heel of his hand and grabbed the saboteur's clothing. The police are trained to keep calm and should not be permitted to strike protestors under any circumstances. Some onlookers might think the court has decided that violence against people who protest against bloodsports is acceptable."
Notes to Editors:-
Past incidents that the association points to when they have been failed by the legal system include:
ENDS
The Hunt Saboteurs Association is starting its 40th season of actively and directly saving animals' lives this month.
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