![{Swales Moor Farm]](minkfarm.jpg)
West Yorkshire Police this week paid £24,000 compensation to 16 people for unlawful arrest and imprisonment. The 16 were amongst 50 arrested following a demonstration at the notorious Swales Moor Mink farm, near Halifax, in October 1991.
Peter Braham told KDIS that about 100 people turned up for the demonstration and mass trespass called by the national Animal Protection Foundation.
"The farmers there were very violent and threatening. They just went ballistic. One farmer jumped on a tractor and drove at us. But it was one of the other farmers that got hit and broke his leg."
The protesters dispersed as police arrived. Peter and his colleagues were stopped in their van in Halifax and arrested.
"13 blokes were banged up in a 2 man cell. Everyone was vegan and so there was nothing to eat. I eventually got one salad sandwich. That's all I had in 13 hours."
"What particularly appalled me was the fact that they released 2 young lasses from Liverpool, both aged 16, into Halifax centre at 2 o'clock on a Sunday morning. They had no way of getting home at that time and had nowhere to go. It was absolutely outrageous."
Peter was released at 3 a.m., after 13 hours. Others were held much longer. Peter was charged with Assault and Criminal damage, but with each successive court appearance the charges were reduced to public order offences. Eventually he was offered a "bind-over" if he pleaded guilty. He refused, along with 15 others.
On the second day of the court case, in December 1991, the prosecution offered no evidence against him and he walked free.
"Only one of the 16 was convicted. He was the only Asian bloke amongst us. The police seemed to particularly have it in for him."
Then began the 7-year fight for compensation.
As the case was finally due to be heard on Monday, the police caved in and offered an out-of-court settlement of £24,000 - £1,500 each.
Police action against Animal Rights activists has escalated in recent years. MI5 claim officially that these are now the only "domestic subversives" targeted by the Security Services in Britain.
In November last year 3 editors of the journal "green Anarchist" were jailed for 3 years each. They were convicted of "incitement" for simply reporting the actions of Animal Liberation activists.