Cost of policing live animal export protests at Port of Ramsgate revealed as £22k a month
Protestors at the Port
of Ramsgate last November
The cost of policing live animal export protests at the Port of
Ramsgate has been revealed as more than £22,000 a month
- equivalent to around the annual salary of a police
officer.
Campaigners who want the trade banned gather at the port when
shipments are due to cross the Channel.
Kent Police send officers to monitor the protests - which have
increasingly turned violent amid claims of threats and
intimidation.
Now it has emerged the cost of policing around 60 sailings in
the 18 months to the end of 2012 was £405,043.
Officers have made 16 arrests since January last year - mainly
relating to public order and criminal damage offences.
Police monitor live
animal export protests through the Port of Ramsgate
The cost, which include police overtime, was released by
Kent's Police Commissioner Ann Barnes in response to an open letter
to Chief Constable Ian Learmonth.
Mr Learmonth said: "The basis for our policing operation in
Ramsgate is the notion of peaceful protest.
"The operation has been successful over a number of years;
however the events in Ramsgate in the latter half of 2012 went
beyond peaceful protest and required a change in the policing style
as a result of intimidation and unlawful behaviour by some protest
groups."
He added this includes intimidation of shipping
staff by protestors shouting threats and throwing rocks at
vehicles.
Others have
blocked trucks by sitting in the road and banged on the vehicles
carrying animals, causing them to brake sharply.
Two police officers have also been injured while
trying to move protestors blocking the road.
Mrs Barnes said: "I hope the publication of this detailed report
serves to reassure the people of Kent that the policing of this
trade is the result of careful deliberation and is
proportionate.
"I remain open to receive feedback and comments relating to
it."
22/01/13
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