Three held in animal rights swoop

THREE people were arrested in a dawn raid on a house at Littlehampton, as part of an international swoop on suspected animal rights activists.

Neighbours heard shouts of "Police!" at around 5am on Tuesday, as the door was forced and around 15 officers in riot gear surrounded the semi-detached house in Thorncroft Road, near Littlehampton Community School.

Police searched the house and were seen carrying away plastic bags during their five hours at the scene. Several police minibuses, vans and cars were parked along the road.

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It was confirmed later that a 43-year-old man and two women aged 39 and 50 were arrested as part of Operation Achilles, involving 12 police forces across England, Scotland and Wales, and further raids in Belgium and the Netherlands.

A total of 32 people were arrested and search warrants were executed at premises in Hampshire, Surrey, Kent, the midlands, the north, Glasgow and south Wales. Littlehampton was the only place raided in Sussex.

Hampshire Police, who are co-ordinating the operation, said many items "that are of interest to the investigation" were recovered in the nationwide raids, including documents, mobile telephones, computer equipment and cash totalling around #100,000.

"Hi-tech crime specialists are examining the computer equipment and mobile phones.

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"Financial investigators from the City of London Police Economic Crime Unit are assisting in relation to the quantities of cash recovered.

"Searches will continue and may last for several days," the Hampshire Police statement added.

The two women arrested at Thorncroft Road are believed to be Sarah Whitehead, 50, a nurse, and Helen Luff, 39, a former traffic warden. Both appeared before Chichester Crown Court last August, when they were found guilty with two others of burglary at an animal breeding establishment at Tangmere.

Ms Whitehead, who also admitted a separate burglary, involving the theft of a pet dog from the breeding centre owner's home, was given a nine-month suspended prison sentence, with 120 hours' community service, while Luff was ordered to carry out 100 hours' community service.

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In court, the raid on the breeding centre was described as an animal rescue operation, in which Ms Whitehead was said to be the ringleader, planning with "military precision".

One neighbour told the Gazette that the two women, who had lived at the house for about four years, made no secret of their animal rights campaigning.

"They are so blatant. Every weekend, they put banners and loud hailers in their cars to go on some sort of demonstration.

"Last year a Transit van pulled up outside with a load of animals in the back. There were about 20 people in a human chain handing the animals from one to another, carrying them into the house.

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"Then the police turned up and blocked off the road, and all the animals were carried out again by the RSPCA."

At the Crown Court hearing, the prosecution referred to 300 birds, more than 40 rabbits, around 50 rats and "an unknown quantity of guinea pigs" being "rescued".

The neighbour said there were many visitors to the house, especially at weekends. "Some are hippy types, some are posh ones in big cars."

On Wednesday afternoon Hampshire Police said all three people arrested at Littlehampton had been released on bail.

Nationally, 17 of those arrested remained in custody, 14 have been released on police bail and one man was released without charge.

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