March policing over the top, say lab protesters
Animal rights protesters have accused police of going over the top with the number of officers patrolling their march.
Up to 80 people took part in the annual demonstration against animal testing at Wickham Laboratories.
About the same number of police officers were on hand to follow the march through the village.
In a speech in the village square, protester John Curtin hit out at the large police presence.
He said: 'We have no weapons and we are not here to riot. We could have been policed by two police officers.'
People of all ages, including pensioners in lab coats and mums with prams, took part in the two-hour march on Saturday.
They were opposing the animal testing which takes place at the labs in Winchester Road, Wickham.
For the first time in the demonstration's 20-year history, the A32 and A334 were closed for the protest.
In previous years, protesters have walked through the village on the narrow pavements.
However, this year, following a meeting between the Stop Wickham Animal Testing group and police, it was decided to temporarily shut the roads for periods of up to 25 minutes.
The demonstration went by peacefully without an arrest.
Superintendent Rick Burrows defended the police presence, saying: 'We have to cater for all events. There has been a history of disorder and criminal damage.
'We have to police the route competently.'
Police say the road closures were introduced to ensure the safety of the protesters and officers.
Queues did build up on the A32, but traffic was quickly moving again as the march moved through the village.
But there was a mixed reaction among villagers to shutting the roads.
Michael Dennis, who owns Heming & Co in The Square, said it was 'way over the top'.
But protester Jeannette McClunan, 53, from the Meon Valley, said: 'It's only one day a year. The horse fair does it and roads close for church fetes – what difference is this? We have a democratic right to protest.'
Wickham Laboratories, which tests the toxicity of medicines and food additives, did not return calls from The News.
>> Vote in our latest web poll.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Portsmouth
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 24 mph
Wind direction: East
