Animal rights activist raid

[Guest guest]

Portsmouth Today Sunday 6 May

 

 

<http://www.portsmouthtoday.co.uk/viewarticle.aspx?sectionid=455 & articleid=2

8>

http://www.portsmouthtoday.co.uk/viewarticle.aspx?sectionid=455 & articleid=28

 

> 54151

 

>

 

> Animal activist: 'I was terrified as police broke in'

 

>

 

> An animal rights protester today told of the terrifying moment police

 

> smashed down her front door and arrested her.

 

>

 

> Nicci Tapping was asleep in bed with her two dogs when police officers

 

> in riot gear stormed her house. She said officers ran upstairs and

 

> towered over her bed, brandishing truncheons.

 

>

 

> The 25-year-old, of Alver Road, Gosport, was arrested on suspicion of

 

> blackmail on Tuesday in the largest ever swoop on suspected animal

 

> rights extremists.

 

>

 

> After hours of questioning at Fareham police station, she was

 

> eventually released on bail. Miss Tapping said: 'I was asleep in bed

 

> and the first thing I heard was this massive bang and crash, which was

 

> the front door going through, then I heard lots of running and policemen

screaming.

 

>

 

> The next thing I knew, two officers burst into my bedroom; they were

 

> wearing riot gear, had truncheons and were screaming " put your hands

 

> in the air " .

 

>

 

> 'I was scared; but I'm a calm person, so I didn't panic, I just

 

> thought, " I haven't done anything wrong " .'

 

>

 

> Miss Tapping is a member of the Southern Animal Rights Coalition and

 

> is an outspoken opponent of animal cruelty. She regularly goes on

 

> marches and protests, but doesn't have a criminal record and claims

 

> she has never been involved in any criminal activity.

 

>

 

> She said police searched in her fish tank and gerbil cage, and

 

> confiscated her computer, phone, cash and credit cards.

 

>

 

> She added that they also took leaflets promoting a vegan festival in

 

> Southampton.

 

>

 

> Miss Tapping said: 'They've taken everything. I think it's just really

 

> over the top and shocking the way they can just smash into a property

 

> and do this.'