Thirteen protesters have been charged with trespass and animal cruelty offences following an incident at a chicken farm near Camden yesterday.
Just before midday a large group of protesters allegedly forced entry to the shed of a chicken farm on Mowbray Road at Lakesland and threatened the owner with bolt cutters.
The group ignored directions to leave the property and placed chickens in cages before fleeing.
A number of chickens were injured or killed as a result.
Officers from Camden Police Area Command attended and stopped the protesters as they were leaving.
Police stopped a Toyota Hilux containing cages of chickens nearby.
Thirteen people – eight women, four men and a 17-year-old girl -were arrested and taken to Narellan Police Station.
Each were charged with the following offences:
– Enter prescribed premises without lawful excuse;
– Commit an act of cruelty upon an animal;
– Malicious damage;
– Steal or kill with intent to steal domestic animal or bird; and
– Enter enclosed lands and interfere in the conduct of business.
One of the men, aged 46, was also charged with assaulting police; common assault and using an offensive weapon with the intent to commit an indictable offence.
The 12 adults were given conditional bail to appear at Picton Local Court on August 14.
The 17-year-old girl was given bail to appear at a children’s court on August 13.
xxxxx
In other police news, a 30 year old man has been charged after he allegedly threatened another man in Ambarvale yesterday.
About 3.40pm police were called to a property following reports of an argument.
Officers searched a car and seized several items, including a firearm, ammunition, a substance believed to be heroin, and cash.
The police officers from Campbelltown City Police Area Command arrested a 30-year-old man and he was taken to Campbelltown Police Station.
The man was charged with aggravated enter with intent, detain for advantage, armed with intent, possess prohibited firearm, possess prohibited drug, and possess prohibited implements.
He was refused bail and is due to appear at Campbelltown Local Court today, June 22.
Sorry but all those animal charges need to be dropped out of that list. The poor chickens were dying anyway. And if they threatened the owner it must have meant he was there. So as police you should have spoken to him and told him to get a vet, clean up the environment, and done a head count on chickens.
Pathetic. The owner of the facility should be the one charged. https://t.co/Wpd8070SYu