Animal Rights, Public Order And Police Accountability

This article examines the legal consequences for activists stemming from demonstrations against the export of live animals from Brightlingsea (Essex, England) in 1995. It also discusses the policing tactics used.

This article focuses particularly on leadership, command and control, and the crucial question of accountability. It also describes and assesses the impact, personally and in the broader context of policing public disorder, of the charges brought against the principal author as a consequence of his leadership/management in the live export demonstrations at Brightlingsea.