Connect with us

News

Camp Beagle costs Cambridgeshire police £500,000 – with no end in sight for protest

Police have even given their efforts a name – Operation Vastus

Avatar photo

Published

on

Policing Camp Beagle has to date cost Cambridgeshire police more than half a million pounds. The protest began outside MBR Acres in Wyton, Cambridgeshire, three years ago to lobby for an end to use the issue of beagles bred there for vivisection and research.

Police have even given their efforts a name – Operation Vastus and it was mentioned in the 2022/23 annual report of chief constable Nick Dean.

Tímea Kovács, a photographer working on a documentary photo project with Camp Beagle took these photos of Louise Ryan and her wheelchair protest.

Tímea Kovács, a photographer working on a documentary photo project with Camp Beagle took these photos of Louise Ryan and her wheelchair protest.

He flagged up the rising costs by mentioning that “across most areas both police officer and staff overtime has overspent, and the operational support unit incurred an overspend on police officer pay and allowances largely due to Operation Vastus ongoing”.

Camp Beagle says the half a million-pound cost came from a Freedom of Information request.

Advertisements
canopyuk.com in-article

“Fellow activists that have witnessed the police presence at Camp Beagle when the IMPEX death vans leave would know that it is a case of overkill when it comes the police to protester ratio,” it has previously said.

Last year a figure of £450,000 had been quoted as the police costs which Camp Beagle described as “breathtaking although it is eclipsed only by MBR Acres who have spent in excess of £3,000,000 in the High Court in London trying to get rid of Camp Beagle”.

Camp Beagle wishes to close down MBR Acres, a huge beagle breeding factory near Huntingdon, which supplies about 2,000 puppies a year to toxicology testing laboratories across the UK. Above is John Curtin who has been banned from the area. PHOTO: Camp Beagle

Camp Beagle wishes to close down MBR Acres, a huge beagle breeding factory near Huntingdon, which supplies about 2,000 puppies a year to toxicology testing laboratories across the UK. Above is John Curtin who has previously been banned from the area. PHOTO: Camp Beagle

The FOI in 2023 showed a breakdown of costs in policing the MBR Acres site at Sawtry Way, Wyton, Huntingdon.

A feature of that breakdown includes £175,000 paid out for police overtime.

 

Facebook

Read More

News1 month ago

Ely ‘hit and run’ driver sought after cyclist left with serious injuries

Cyclist injured in crash with a grey car in Lynn Road, Ely

News1 month ago

WATCH: Police retrieve machete and cannabis from Peterborough drug dealer

Offender caught again whilst on bail for first offence

News1 month ago

BREAKING: Cambridgeshire County Council ‘truly sorry’ after it admits liability for 3 fatalities on Guided Busway

Council 'fully acknowledges the serious historic failings'

News1 month ago

WATCH: ‘You got me fair and square’ Wisbech burglar tells police in Peterborough

He was arrested in Peterborough city centre on 26 April

News1 month ago

WATCH: Police raid cannabis ‘factory’ inside Alconbury Weston house

Cannabis arrest followed a tip off from members of the public

News1 month ago

3 things to do while in the queue for an Oasis ticket – and it’s not what you might think

Tongue in cheek post has a serious message

News1 month ago

Cambs transport charity launches scathing attack after losing subsidised bus route to Stagecoach

FACT operated the 68 Wisbech service for a number of years

News1 month ago

Mayor attacks ‘cheap theatre of negativity’ over £48m Peterborough station facelift

Labour hopes Great Northern Hotel will be in future phase of re-development

News1 month ago

Opposition to 8am to 11pm pavement wining and dining in Wisbech by Wetherspoon

In Whittlesey Wetherspoon hope to use Market Place for outdoor drinkers

News1 month ago

Cambridge ‘drug lord’ caught with loaded gun, cash, and £500,000 worth of drugs

Rahman ran a criminal enterprise across Cambridge