Five activists from Gloucestershire Animal Action were arrested on Tuesday 27th June during a peaceful demonstration outside the Queens Hotel in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Two undercover police officers were on site from 5pm and a uniformed police officer was on site at around 5:30pm to tell the protesters to be quiet during the demonstration and to inform us we were not allowed to use a megaphone on our demonstration (so we ceased its use and used our voices which the sergeant was ok with…). Being so diplomatic he used the amusing phrase “I’ve got plenty of empty cells and I’d gladly fill them up with you lot!”, It would seem it doesn’t matter if we have broken the law or not does it?
We then moved on to Lumiere for a lively protest during which time the manageress told us she was phoning the police… Oh NO… not more wasting of police time! No police were forthcoming on this occasion and many complimentary bottles of wine were given out to dinners to apologise for the protest.
At around 7:30 we returned to the Queens Hotel for more protest, everything was peaceful the guests were more than happy to take leaflets and agreed with out sentiments 99% of the time. At around 8pm sirens were heard closing in… Five police cars and a police van arrived with around 12-13 very purposeful looking public “servants” flying towards us telling us we had been inside the hotel… We had not entered and had no reason to talk with staff inside or outside.
The police confirmed they had reports of a female entering which fitted the description of one of our group and we were summarily arrested under Section 5 of the public order act. On exit of the police van one of our activists hit her head on the roof and was smirked at by a particularly ugly copper.
We were held in the booking in room for a while as we were checked in one at the time… during which time the megaphone siren decided to go off to the shock of everyone at the cop shop… It was funny though 
At around 2am we were released without charge and given the following speech by some arse of a copper who clearly was a right wing pillock.
(Paraphrased) You lot need to grow up, people are always going to use animals… thats what they are for youll never stop it.
At which point I envisioned him in a 60s style uniform talking to a young black kid whom he had beaten badly saying its nothing personal its just the colour of your skin…
I politely told him, thanks for the speech but while people exploit other life or the environment we will always be here protesting.
During our time in the cells, one activist was denied medical care after requesting it. 3 activists denied food and water.
No apologies were forthcoming. We will be pursuing a claim ASAP and complaints will be made via the IPCC.
Please check out this video about Foie Gras…
Thanks
Chris
