Activist cautioned for lab photography
Appley was cautioned for taking photos of construction workers
The first person to be charged with infringing Oxford University’s injunction against photography of the animal research development has been released with a caution by the Thames Valley Police. Officers arrested Adrian Appley, 63, when he was caught taking photographs of construction workers outside the South Parks Road site last December. He was released on bail under the condition that he did not enter the city of Oxford.
Appley was charged with breaching a civil injunction by taking photographs of a protected person. When issuing the caution, police indicated that, provided he remained outside of the city until a review of his case on June 19th, no further action will be taken against him. The lawyer for the defence, Kevin Tomlinson, called this “a satisfactory outcome”. A University spokesperson said that they are happy with the result of the case.
“It shows the injunction is working sensibly,” she said. The High Court restricts the use of camera equipment within the existing 100-yard exclusion zone around the lab, and Appley is the first person to be charged with breaching this restriction. Brian Payne, the lawyer for the prosecution, stated in court, “He is a man of previously good character. This is not a case where as a result of pictures being taken there was a campaign of intimidation.
However, Brian Loosely questioned Appley’s intentions. He said, “I would have thought that one does not go and photograph an ugly building like the laboratory site just to take pictures.” Tomlinson declined to comment on his client’s motives in taking the photographs. Although the court accepted that Appley was not a professional protester, they did consider his history of involvement in animal rights campaigning.
He signed a petition against animal testing that was submitted to the EU, and he has put his name to two online pledges on pidgebank.com.
27th Apr 2006