Archive - Thursday, 13 June 2002


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Ratepayers could foot bill for hunt protests

RATEPAYERS could pay the clean-up bill for illegal pro-hunting slogans painted on roads and roundabouts in York and North Yorkshire.

Since May 16, hunting activists have daubed paint in nine different places around York, Selby and Ryedale. On one night, six appeared in different parts of the county.

Police have confirmed that the slogans break the law and could be dangerous to road users and that they are investigating.

Roads such as the A64 are the responsibility of the Highways Agency.

Normally, the council tries to get the owner of a defaced property to pay for cleaning it, but the roads are public property. If vandals are convicted of damaging council property, it routinely applies to the courts to order the perpetrators to pay the cleaning cost.

The latest slogans are believed to be the work of militant hunt activists, possibly the Real Countryside Alliance (RCA). The RCA has no connections with the Countryside Alliance, which has condemned its actions and its choice of name.

Police say that the slogans are criminal damage, as they cost money to clean away. They could also endanger road users as motorists could be distracted from the road to try and read them.

Both offences can be punished by a jail term.

Hunt protestors and animal rights activists might not be typical bedfellows, but Flamingo Land - the subject of a number of protests by people opposed to the park's zoo - is the latest to be hit by protest graffiti. Signs to the theme park at the turn-off to Kirby Misperton from the A169 Malton to Pickering road have been obscured by paint.

Updated: 11:27 Thursday, June 13, 2002