Campaigner arrested for 'blowing a whistle' after silent vigil held for lobsters outside restaurant

Animal rights activists claim a campaigner was arrested for 'blowing a whistle' after a silent vigil was held for lobsters outside a Cambridge restaurant. About 15 protesters gathered at the Riverbar, Quayside to protest over the boiling of live lobsters.

The vigil was held on Saturday halfway through the event, and veteran activist Joan Court, 95, spoke to campaigners about the culinary practice. Edmund Maile, of Animal Rights Cambridge and the United Shellfish Front, said: "One protester was arrested for blowing a whistle. She was released from custody around 4am the next morning with no charge.



"Lobsters are sensitive and intelligent creatures who are persecuted in ways which would be deemed unacceptable in other species, and this campaign, through appealing to the conscience of restauranteurs and members of the public, is designed to challenge this injustice." He added: "Although our group does not encourage or partake in unlawful behaviour, any kind of activity that may be regarded an 'extreme' response to animal abuse is unlikely to be significant when compared to the harm that millions of lobsters suffer."

Agnes Trzak, PhD researcher of social justice, said: "We, the public, would find it unacceptable and outrageous if other species were to be killed in the same place we bring our families for a pleasant dining experience." A Cambridgeshire police spokesman said: "A 49-year-old woman was arrested for a public order offence at 7pm and has been bailed until September 14."