Four animal rights activists have been found not guilty of aggravated trespass after they took part in a slaughterhouse protest in November 2023. Over 30 animal advocates staged a demonstration outside of AD Harvey in Norfolk, an RSPCA Assured abattoir, following an undercover exposé that we released in October 2023.

The protesters called for RSPCA Assured to permanently ban AD Harvey from their assurance scheme after undercover footage revealed a torrent of abuse by ‘chicken-catching gangs’. These ‘gangs’ are hired to carry out a process called ‘depopulation’, where hens are rounded up for slaughter at 76-80 weeks old, when they are considered ‘spent’ – not profitable to the egg farmers any longer. The company was suspended by the assurance scheme but was later fully reinstated in October 2024, despite it being some of the most violent animal abuse we had ever witnessed.

In disturbing scenes, AD Harvey’s workers were filmed throwing hens, crushing them with a feeder, slamming them into plastic crates and holding as many as five hens by a single leg in each hand, which at the time of filming, was against government guidelines. After clearing as many as 30,000 hens in a few hours, birds with broken limbs who were barely alive were left scattered on the floor, next to many other dead individuals.

Heavy police presence at the protest resulted in four activists being arrested, accused of aggravated trespass. The three-day court case, which ended on Friday 13 December at Norwich Magistrates’ Court, found all four activists being cleared of any wrong doings.

Amelia Light, 25, was dismissed due to insufficient evidence. Gemma Barnes, 34, Christopher Bartley, 59, and Chantelle Leach, 37, were all found not guilty of aggravated trespass as there was no evidence of intimidation or serious disruption by the activists.

District Judge Bone stated: "I really do wish the police had arrested these people who were causing disruption and a real adverse impact that day; and I cannot understand why they arrested these individuals."

We are elated with the news! Justice has prevailed. None of the activists on the day were breaking the law and this verdict reflects our right to peaceful protest. All four of the protestors have had to endure 14 months of hardships due to the police’s negligence and wrongful use of their powers. The authorities must turn their sight towards the companies who are routinely breaking the law and carrying out grotesque violence on animals.

As always,

For the animals.