'Activists' launch attack on leading councillor's cars (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
Get involved: send your pictures, video, news and views by texting TANEWS to 80360, or email
'Activists' launch attack on leading councillor's cars
7:00am Saturday 24th January 2009 in
A senior Bradford councillor believes she has fallen victim to a “sickening” attack by animal rights extremists after acid was poured over two cars parked outside her home.
The attackers caused thousands of pounds of damage when they let down tyres and stripped paint from the cars in the driveway of Coun Anne Hawkesworth’s house in Ilkley.
She said there was a “strong possibility” she had been targeted by extremists because of her support for controversial grouse shoots on Ilkley Moor.
The vandals struck early yesterday as she was preparing for a meeting of the Regional Transport Board in a bid to secure £34.4 million for major projects in Bradford district.
Her husband’s Vauxhall Astra was written off and her Vauxhall Tigra will now have to be re-sprayed. She said: “I only realised when I was driving away that something was wrong with the car.
“The paint has been stripped off, one of the cars is going to have to be re-sprayed, and acid has gone on to the drive as well “I felt sickened. I don’t know how much it is going to cost but it will be an awful lot of money.”
Bradford Council’s chief executive Tony Reeves has now agreed to install CCTV surveillance at the councillor’s home in a bid to prevent further attacks.
But Coun Hawkesworth, the Conservative executive member for the environment, said she feared for the personal safety of other councillors.
She said: “I have real concerns for elected representatives who publish their addresses on the official Council list that they could get into this terrible state if other groups take exception to other decisions. Where does it end?”
No-one has so far claimed responsibility for the attack.
But Coun Hawkesworth believes she has been targeted for supporting the Council’s decision to grant a ten-year lease to the Bingley Moor Partnership for grouse shooting following a ten-year ban.
She became embroiled in a war of words last year with members of the West Yorkshire Hunt Saboteurs which has been vocal in its opposition to the move.
In August, its members took their protest to the centre of Bradford outside key Council offices, including Jacob’s Well and City Hall.
The animal rights extremists previously claimed they had destroyed grouse pens and traps on the moor last summer.
Police are investigating the incident.
Inspector Sue Sanderson, of Ilkley police, said: “We’ll be doing door-to-door inquiries. At this moment in time we can’t link anything to animal rights, but inquiries are ongoing and if we find there is a link, we will take the appropriate action.
“She is a senior figure in the district council and I’m sure there are people who potentially will have disagreements with her politics.”
e-mail: marc.meneaud @telegraphandargus.co.uk
Comments(37)
Wrosebud
says...
8:12am Sat 24 Jan 09
Chris B
says...
8:29am Sat 24 Jan 09
sentinel
says...
9:23am Sat 24 Jan 09
caribouk
says...
9:40am Sat 24 Jan 09
tyker
says...
9:57am Sat 24 Jan 09
animal activists base din Hmaphsire have just been jailed for several year for various attacks which increased in severity form the attack on cars like this to blackmail, to perverting the course of justice etc etc etc.
why should someone who has a genuine point to make be co-erced into silence by acts of vandalism like this.
if these people regard vandalism and personal attacks as valid ways to enhance their argument then we are heading for a very sad end as a society!!
spinnekop
says...
11:55am Sat 24 Jan 09
MP
says...
11:58am Sat 24 Jan 09
Mike Strutter
says...
1:06pm Sat 24 Jan 09
It could be a supporter of keeping the Odeon, it could be anyone to be honest.
TheVoice
says...
1:50pm Sat 24 Jan 09
Second..Dont blame the first organisation that comes to your head without evidence, that’s not productive at all.
Finally the tax payer should no way be footing the bill especially after the T & A rightly exposed the pay packets of the Bradford council club.
Shouldn’t all public sector workers then get compensated or just club members?
Haji
says...
2:13pm Sat 24 Jan 09
Just as a side issue how can anybody find any sense in supporting a sport that results in the cruel killing of an innocent animal. Maybe you need to rethink what you lend your support to.
U8MyRabbit
says...
2:57pm Sat 24 Jan 09
I am sure a full car respray will contribute considerable damage to the environment.
Dr Evil
says...
3:54pm Sat 24 Jan 09
Mike Strutter wrote:I've re-read the article & still can't see why the finger has been pointed at animal extremists. She has probably upset a majority of people who live in this city! Despicable & cowardly way of getting one's point across though.
I'm sure she has hacked off plenty of people other than animal rights activists over the years.
It could be a supporter of keeping the Odeon, it could be anyone to be honest.
Roadkilluk
says...
3:59pm Sat 24 Jan 09
Dr Evil
says...
4:09pm Sat 24 Jan 09
Dr Evil wrote:Wow, I didn't make one typo! Of course she would blame anonymous Extremists rather than publicly admit what she must know to be the truth; that it really could be any one of the Hundreds of Thousands that she has upset. Young, Old, Black, White, Asian, Professional, Jobseeker, Student...
Mike Strutter wrote:I've re-read the article & still can't see why the finger has been pointed at animal extremists. She has probably upset a majority of people who live in this city! Despicable & cowardly way of getting one's point across though.
I'm sure she has hacked off plenty of people other than animal rights activists over the years.
It could be a supporter of keeping the Odeon, it could be anyone to be honest.
sentinel
says...
4:41pm Sat 24 Jan 09
Haji wrote:The councillor did not blame anyone! she said there was a strong possibility that she had been targeted by extremists.
I think it is very brave of the councillor to place the blame at the door of the animal cruelty protestors. If it turns out to be some vandals not connected to any cause then the grouse egg will be very difficult to clean from your face.
Just as a side issue how can anybody find any sense in supporting a sport that results in the cruel killing of an innocent animal. Maybe you need to rethink what you lend your support to.
With regard to your other point, i used to shoot animals for food, in my opinion that is much less cruel than what goes on in slaughter houses.
Welcome To The New World Order
says...
4:53pm Sat 24 Jan 09
Dr Evil
says...
5:23pm Sat 24 Jan 09
Welcome To The New World Order wrote:I thought that Animal Extremists 'signed' their work anyway.
Why blame it on animal-rights activists when there is no evidence? If it was animal-rights extremists then it serves no good to the cause. The inconvenience, shock, expense & upset of a damged car, however, is hardly comparable to the loss of one's life at the end of a shotgun.
Haji
says...
5:37pm Sat 24 Jan 09
sentinel wrote:The articles starts with the following paragraph:
Haji wrote: I think it is very brave of the councillor to place the blame at the door of the animal cruelty protestors. If it turns out to be some vandals not connected to any cause then the grouse egg will be very difficult to clean from your face. Just as a side issue how can anybody find any sense in supporting a sport that results in the cruel killing of an innocent animal. Maybe you need to rethink what you lend your support to.The councillor did not blame anyone! she said there was a strong possibility that she had been targeted by extremists. With regard to your other point, i used to shoot animals for food, in my opinion that is much less cruel than what goes on in slaughter houses.
A senior Bradford councillor believes she has fallen victim to a “sickening” attack by animal rights extremists after acid was poured over two cars parked outside her home.
It then goes on to say there 'strong possibility'.
Semantics to one side, I would say that this is strongly pointing the finger of blame.
Your second point - I accept (despite my previous comment)that hunting for food is perhaps less of a problem than for the sole pleasure of killing the animal. However, i would strongly disagree that this is more swift or less painful than the slaughter house.
scanipoos
says...
5:57pm Sat 24 Jan 09
Roadkilluk wrote:hey can I have one to.
I've been a victim of crime, stolen items from my garden etc. I'm applying for my CCTV first thing Monday morning.
sentinel
says...
6:26pm Sat 24 Jan 09
Haji wrote:The story you quoted is not the words of the councillor but the words of the author of the story. In a court of law she would not be guilty of making such an accusation.
sentinel wrote:The articles starts with the following paragraph:
Haji wrote: I think it is very brave of the councillor to place the blame at the door of the animal cruelty protestors. If it turns out to be some vandals not connected to any cause then the grouse egg will be very difficult to clean from your face. Just as a side issue how can anybody find any sense in supporting a sport that results in the cruel killing of an innocent animal. Maybe you need to rethink what you lend your support to.The councillor did not blame anyone! she said there was a strong possibility that she had been targeted by extremists. With regard to your other point, i used to shoot animals for food, in my opinion that is much less cruel than what goes on in slaughter houses.
A senior Bradford councillor believes she has fallen victim to a “sickening” attack by animal rights extremists after acid was poured over two cars parked outside her home.
It then goes on to say there 'strong possibility'.
Semantics to one side, I would say that this is strongly pointing the finger of blame.
Your second point - I accept (despite my previous comment)that hunting for food is perhaps less of a problem than for the sole pleasure of killing the animal. However, i would strongly disagree that this is more swift or less painful than the slaughter house.
In my opinion the despatch of animals in the wild by shooting is less stressful for them than joining a queue to have their throat cut, at least that appeared to be the situation on the times i have witnessed both.
Haji
says...
10:26pm Sat 24 Jan 09
Anyhow, I completely disagree with animals being lined up for slaughter. Infact, the code of conduct according to most religious systems makes it immoral and unethical for one slaughter to be witnessed by any other animal. I am guessing you probably saw slaughters take place of the stunning variety (electric current etc). Unfortunately, those slaughter houses that conduct such methods do not subscribe to the idea that animals need to be protrected from witnessing the slaughter of other animals.
sentinel
says...
10:32pm Sat 24 Jan 09
Dr Evil
says...
1:33am Sun 25 Jan 09
sentinel wrote:I really can't understand why this is such a sticking point for you. The purpose of the story is that Her Majesty believes the damage was caused by AR Activists. Full stop.
So we have now moved from blaming to suggesting, thats more like it.
sentinel
says...
6:37am Sun 25 Jan 09
Haji wrote:If people type "halal slaughter" into Google video, they can make up their own minds.
What? court of law? I think you have to accept that the story is suggesting that the councillor is blaming animal right protesters for this vandalism - I am not interested in how much water this would hold in a court of law. If we had to work out the legal strength of each news story then we would have one eye on the newspaper and then other on the Magna Carta.
Anyhow, I completely disagree with animals being lined up for slaughter. Infact, the code of conduct according to most religious systems makes it immoral and unethical for one slaughter to be witnessed by any other animal. I am guessing you probably saw slaughters take place of the stunning variety (electric current etc). Unfortunately, those slaughter houses that conduct such methods do not subscribe to the idea that animals need to be protrected from witnessing the slaughter of other animals.
Steven McLean
says...
9:13am Sun 25 Jan 09
scanipoos wrote:I want one too .. cars don't just get paintwork alterations around here .. they get nicked .. and what do the police do? naff all!!
Roadkilluk wrote: I've been a victim of crime, stolen items from my garden etc. I'm applying for my CCTV first thing Monday morning.hey can I have one to.
Lets all apply for one :)
As for HM Hawkesworth .. she probably got a little angry upon finding her car vandalised .. who wouldn't?
In haste and without thinking .. she decided to blame it on an easy target .. Animal Rights!!
albion
says...
10:13am Sun 25 Jan 09
Steven McLean wrote:Quite possibly, or are there other things that have lead her to come to that assumption?
scanipoos wrote:I want one too .. cars don't just get paintwork alterations around here .. they get nicked .. and what do the police do? naff all!!
Roadkilluk wrote: I've been a victim of crime, stolen items from my garden etc. I'm applying for my CCTV first thing Monday morning.hey can I have one to.
Lets all apply for one :)
As for HM Hawkesworth .. she probably got a little angry upon finding her car vandalised .. who wouldn't?
In haste and without thinking .. she decided to blame it on an easy target .. Animal Rights!!
Yaser Karim
says...
10:55am Sun 25 Jan 09
will she be getting a free respray ?
oh, and i'll have some CCTV whilst your at it.
tyker
says...
11:51am Sun 25 Jan 09
The headline states "'Activists' launch attack on leading councillor's cars"
The headline states this has happended and everyone is having an opinion on that. However the very first sentence of the report says "A senior Bradford councillor believes she has fallen...."
Therefore the headline is stating FACT whereas it is only a belief of the person who has had her cars vandalised.
These positions are miles apart and the T AND A has fallen into the trap of creating a HEADLINE for the purposes of..................
...? whereas the story is very different.
This is RED TOP journalism and the T AND A has become/is fast becoming a tabloid in its worst form where HEADLINE is created for impact and without any regard to the article which it heads.
SLOOPY AND BAD JOURNALISM!
Haji
says...
1:03pm Sun 25 Jan 09
It takes longer for an animal to die after being shot (so is more painful) than it does by having the jugular severed. Why is that difficult to understand? My point was about not lining up anmals so they don't have to witness their own fate.
About the other point- councillor blaming or suggesting - it is all semantics and is not of a great deal of interest to anyone. You have to read the story as it is and the point is well demonstrated by Tyker above so I won't bother after this posting to explain what is a relatively straightforward position - Councillor blames/believes/sugg
ests/envisages/
imagines/dreams/has visions of etc etc etc etc that she has been targetted by animal right protestors.
albion
says...
1:09pm Sun 25 Jan 09
Haji wrote:A look at the videos suggested earlier doesnt bear that out.
Sentinel
It takes longer for an animal to die after being shot (so is more painful) than it does by having the jugular severed. Why is that difficult to understand? My point was about not lining up anmals so they don't have to witness their own fate.
About the other point- councillor blaming or suggesting - it is all semantics and is not of a great deal of interest to anyone. You have to read the story as it is and the point is well demonstrated by Tyker above so I won't bother after this posting to explain what is a relatively straightforward position - Councillor blames/believes/sugg
ests/envisages/
imagines/dreams/has visions of etc etc etc etc that she has been targetted by animal right protestors.
Jammy
says...
3:30pm Sun 25 Jan 09
yezboss
says...
4:05pm Sun 25 Jan 09
Haji wrote:Halal killing !!??
I think it is very brave of the councillor to place the blame at the door of the animal cruelty protestors. If it turns out to be some vandals not connected to any cause then the grouse egg will be very difficult to clean from your face.
Just as a side issue how can anybody find any sense in supporting a sport that results in the cruel killing of an innocent animal. Maybe you need to rethink what you lend your support to.
That comment is nonsense, ask any vet. (Or try it yourself Haji)
Having actually pulled the trigger of a captive bolt many times I can tell you the brain is deactivated immediately. No pain no suffering. When an animals jugular is slit that is a slow painfull disorienting death, an appalling death. Cruelty beyond belief. A chicken having it's neck pulled or a rabbit given a neck chop both of which I have also done is also quite painless because the spinal cord is pulled from the brain. When ecer the brian is deactivated there is no pain of suffering and to say other animals suffer if they are able to see any sort of killing is complete rubbish.
NOTSOCOMMENSENSE
says...
6:44pm Sun 25 Jan 09
Haji
says...
6:58pm Sun 25 Jan 09
yezboss wrote:You are in favour of stunning and pulling the neck but these are your personal preferences and not necessarily scientifically sound. Doctors have carried out scientific experiments about the most painful and least painful methods but were not once able to reach any conclusions about the level of concsciousness lost as a result of the bolt. They did conclude that animals are aware of other animals physical experiences and therefore should not be made to witness the death of other animals.
Haji wrote: I think it is very brave of the councillor to place the blame at the door of the animal cruelty protestors. If it turns out to be some vandals not connected to any cause then the grouse egg will be very difficult to clean from your face. Just as a side issue how can anybody find any sense in supporting a sport that results in the cruel killing of an innocent animal. Maybe you need to rethink what you lend your support to.Halal killing !!?? That comment is nonsense, ask any vet. (Or try it yourself Haji) Having actually pulled the trigger of a captive bolt many times I can tell you the brain is deactivated immediately. No pain no suffering. When an animals jugular is slit that is a slow painfull disorienting death, an appalling death. Cruelty beyond belief. A chicken having it's neck pulled or a rabbit given a neck chop both of which I have also done is also quite painless because the spinal cord is pulled from the brain. When ecer the brian is deactivated there is no pain of suffering and to say other animals suffer if they are able to see any sort of killing is complete rubbish.
I know this article doesnot make any reference to slaughter methods so apologies to readers who cannot be bothered to read this but I felt I had deal with the polemic and unsubstantaited claims made by yezboss
huxleyp
says...
8:26pm Sun 25 Jan 09
Anne Hawksworth can well afford the £200 pounds or less that it takes to set up cctv (and yes I do know my figures) to cover a drive and driveway.
What's next ? will she qualify for a special branch bodyguard?
ramsbottom
says...
11:03pm Sun 25 Jan 09
No more than urban terrorists, preying on hard working, law abiding citizens.
Recently six of them were locked up for a very long time. Great news and serves them right.
ItchyBungle
says...
12:51pm Mon 26 Jan 09
Also every month I get robbed by Bradford Council which they call "tax". Can I please have CCTV at my home so I feel safer.
More Bradford stories
- Bradford Facebook pervert jailed and will be deported for grooming teenage girl
- Yet more parking charges to be introduced in Bradford city centre
- Bradford man spared jail after turning on his Addingham mum
- Barrister cleared of misconduct over Bradford sex attack trial
- RSPCA: ‘Injured cat may have been deliberately set alight’
- Death of former head teacher Ray Honeyford sparks schooling debate
- Blaze at tyre warehouse being treated as 'suspicious'
- Heaton pensioner died from natural causes
- Flight instructor to face court after Brighouse millionaire's death crash
- Maintenance work starts on Bradford's Odeon building
One of Coun Anne Hawkesworth's damaged cars
Most popular
Local Information
Enter your postcode, town or place name
Comment now! Register or sign in below.
Log in with us
Fields marked with * are mandatory.
Or
Log in with