Protest Guidelines
Above: The Manchester Hilton Demonstration held in January 2014
WE HAVE PUBLISHED THE BELOW GUIDELINES FOR 2016 ONWARDS, IN THE HOPE THAT PEOPLE WILL FOLLOW THEM, AS THE OUTCOME OF ALL PROTESTS REFLECT ON THE IMAGE AND HARD WORK OF THE ANTI RACING MOVEMENT AS A WHOLE.
Protest Guidelines
We strongly recommend that all track demonstrations are recorded, for your own safety and protection.
This is completely legal as long as you advise people they are being filmed. Using well displayed signs ‘CCTV in Operation’ is the best way of ensuring people are well informed.
Safety first - Do not obstruct pathways, or stand in the road, this is illegal.
- Avoid standing in front of informative banners, images work best especially when people are slightly intoxicated and can’t read the leaflets.
- Be polite under all circumstances, NEVER make personal comments to people.
- Do NOT throw leaflets at cars, or inside car windows.
- If you feel annoyed at an individual, stay calm, walk away and move onto the next person.
- Always remain polite if someone refuses a leaflet, they have a right to say no.
- Do NOT answer questions if you are unsure about the answers, show people a leaflet and politely ask them to look at the website.
- If you feel you cannot control your emotions, please avoid attending a track demonstration, as you will be unlikely to benefit the cause.
- Over the years there have been just a few infiltrators that have attended demonstrations to cause trouble, if you feel a protester is acting inappropriately, ask a couple of regular protesters for a second opinion and if agreed quietly approach the person and ask them if they have received the guidelines, if not offer a copy.
- As a supplier of materials for some demonstrations, Caged are interested to hear of any difficulties caused by individuals at demonstrations that we supply and can be contacted by private email, we may require evidence such as video footage.
- Use your discretion, you have a right to peacefully demonstrate, you are within your right to call the police, if you feel intimidated, or threatened by any individual including staff at the track.
- If you bring young children or dogs, please make it your priority to keep them safe, well away from large crowds and the roadside. 'Some protests may not be suitable for animals or young children'
- Please ensure your dogs are well catered for while at the demonstration, warmth and drinking water available where necessary. We advise you do NOT bring timid dogs that may be frightened by noise or traffic, etc
If a demonstration has large numbers we suggest that you call the police and ask for a CSO to pop along and monitor the demonstration, this will deter any conflict from the public and help keep protesters safe.
The leaflets are very informative, if someone accepts a leaflet think of it as an achievement, ALWAYS thank them. The information on the leaflet may be enough to deter them from attending again.
Use your good judgement, if someone seems intoxicated, just offer a leaflet rather than verbal information, as they are unlikely to absorb what you have said and more likely to become confrontational.
Your time will be better spent conversing with someone who is capable of absorbing information.
Educate NOT Isolate.
Many people who attend tracks are unaware of the cruelty that exists.
Being polite to individuals attending the tracks will help them to accept information and place their trust in you.
People may have already started their evening out elsewhere, they may be partially intoxicated and may feel uncomfortable being confronted or flooded with information. Offering just a leaflet may be the best option rather than trying to speak to someone who may not be in the right state of mind to absorb information. A leaflet may be put in a pocket and forgotten about, hopefully the person will find this leaflet when they are sober and may opt to read it and do their own research.
Thank you for being a voice for the dogs!!
Protest DISCLAIMER and Guidelines 2016
We strictly advise that you 'DO NOT' do any of the following:
Obstruct roads, pathways, or doorways.
Touch other people’s property without gaining their approval, ie Do NOT put leaflets through car windows, pop leaflets into people’s bags, prams etc.
Follow people if they walk away from you, as this can be classed as harassment.
Leave leaflets on cars or anywhere else without permission, as this can be classed as littering.
Use any obscene language - Educate NOT Isolate. Do anything that can be deemed as vandalism, such as drawing on footpaths, or car parks etc, or attaching materials to private property, even if this is easily removable, such as the use of chalk. It is important to remain professional at all times.
Track protests:
Please consider the greyhounds and their welfare.
We strongly advise you do NOT touch or obstruct vehicles carrying animals as this may frighten the dogs and can be taken very seriously.
To comply with specific laws that protect children, please refrain from taking photographs of children unaccompanied by a parent or guardian.
We strongly advise that children under the age of 18 do not attend protests without a guardian or adult accompanying them.
All greyhound tracks have CCTV and any actions deemed as illegal, may cause action to be taken against the whole of a protest, and could even introduce an injunction against regular protesters.
What we advise you to do:
We advise that at least one member of every organised protest, captures video footage throughout a track protest, as this can substantiate the innocence of any person accused of a crime. Please act within the law at all times. Caged Nationwide have to work within the law, and are fully aware of the possibility of infiltration within the anti-racing movement, and therefore cannot be expected to conceal any information forwarded to them if a crime is committed. Please do take full responsibility for your animals at all times, by making any necessary provisions for them, and, if possible avoid taking them to greyhound track demonstrations where they may be exposed to people who are intoxicated, crowds and loud noise. The above information is provided to help protect the anti racing movement as a whole.
We strictly advise that you 'DO NOT' do any of the following:
Obstruct roads, pathways, or doorways.
Touch other people’s property without gaining their approval, ie Do NOT put leaflets through car windows, pop leaflets into people’s bags, prams etc.
Follow people if they walk away from you, as this can be classed as harassment.
Leave leaflets on cars or anywhere else without permission, as this can be classed as littering.
Use any obscene language - Educate NOT Isolate. Do anything that can be deemed as vandalism, such as drawing on footpaths, or car parks etc, or attaching materials to private property, even if this is easily removable, such as the use of chalk. It is important to remain professional at all times.
Track protests:
Please consider the greyhounds and their welfare.
We strongly advise you do NOT touch or obstruct vehicles carrying animals as this may frighten the dogs and can be taken very seriously.
To comply with specific laws that protect children, please refrain from taking photographs of children unaccompanied by a parent or guardian.
We strongly advise that children under the age of 18 do not attend protests without a guardian or adult accompanying them.
All greyhound tracks have CCTV and any actions deemed as illegal, may cause action to be taken against the whole of a protest, and could even introduce an injunction against regular protesters.
What we advise you to do:
We advise that at least one member of every organised protest, captures video footage throughout a track protest, as this can substantiate the innocence of any person accused of a crime. Please act within the law at all times. Caged Nationwide have to work within the law, and are fully aware of the possibility of infiltration within the anti-racing movement, and therefore cannot be expected to conceal any information forwarded to them if a crime is committed. Please do take full responsibility for your animals at all times, by making any necessary provisions for them, and, if possible avoid taking them to greyhound track demonstrations where they may be exposed to people who are intoxicated, crowds and loud noise. The above information is provided to help protect the anti racing movement as a whole.
If you think you can manage the task of organising
an ongoing track protest, we can help you start
up with all the materials you need.
Click the buttons below to see our protest material
an ongoing track protest, we can help you start
up with all the materials you need.
Click the buttons below to see our protest material
