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Animal rights activists try to disrupt Towcester greyhound race

Zac Goodwin Big screen and police at Towcester RacecourseZac Goodwin
Protesters climbed scaffolding around a big screen in the site in an effort to disrupt the racing

Animal rights activists have climbed scaffolding in an attempt to disrupt a major greyhound racing event.

Animal Rising said it had taken the action at Towcester Racecourse in a bid to prevent races at the English Greyhound Derby going ahead.

The racecourse said the action had cost it "thousands of pounds" in security, but racing had not been disrupted.

Northamptonshire Police arrested three suspected animal rights activists ahead of the event.

Animal Rising said members had entered the track and climbed scaffolding around a big screen.

PA Media Protester at Towcester RacecoursePA Media
Protesters held up placards outside the racecourse before and during the event

Northamptonshire Police said specialist officers were deployed, to work "alongside site security to remove three people who have illegally trespassed on to the venue".

A spokesperson said it had been "mounting a significant policing operation for the event following threats in recent weeks from Animal Rising activists, who have warned they plan to disrupt it".

Two men, aged 41 and 26, and a woman, aged 33, were arrested ahead of the event, as part of a "public safety operation", supported by the Metropolitan Police.

PA Media Police at Towcester RacecoursePA Media
A large police operation was mounted in an effort to minimise disruption
PA Media Banner with anto-greyhound racing message flown over Towcester RacecoursePA Media
A plane flew a banner over the racecourse, which had the message "Greyhound racing kills" printed on it

Speaking before the event, Ch Insp Pete Basham said officers would "be facilitating people's rights to lawfully protest", but added that any protesters disrupting the event would be dealt with "robustly if they step outside the law and affect the enjoyment of spectators coming to attend the races".

Kevin Boothby, managing director of the course, said previously that the "unlawful and reckless intentions" had "already come at a significant cost to our operation".

"Tens of thousands of pounds have been invested in additional security measures which will be noticeable on the night even to the casual racegoer," he said.

He added that he had met with members of Animal Rising so "they could communicate their plans for the evening" and had taken the chance "to reiterate our core concerns".

An Animal Rising representative said those arrested were "peaceful supporters who were trying to protect dogs".

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