Camp Beagle is an ongoing

protest camp A protest camp or protest encampment (or just encampment) is a physical camp that is set up by activists, to either provide a base for protest, or to delay, obstruct or prevent the focus of their protest by physically blocking it with the camp. ...

set up in June 2021 by

animal rights activists Animals are multicellular, eukaryotic organisms in the biological kingdom Animalia (). With few exceptions, animals consume organic material, breathe oxygen, have myocytes and are able to move, can reproduce sexually, and grow from a ho ...

outside of MBR Acres, a breeding facility for

beagle The Beagle is a small breed of scent hound, similar in appearance to the much larger foxhound. The beagle was developed primarily for hunting rabbit or hare, known as beagling. Possessing a great sense of smell and superior tracking inst ...

s used in laboratory research, in Wyton, Cambridgeshire. As of May 2024, It is the longest-lasting protest camp of its kind, where protesters have maintained a permanent presence with the demand to shutdown the facility and end the use of beagles for research purposes.

Background

MBR Acres is owned by the American company Marshall BioResources (MBR). Up to 2,000 beagles are bred at the facility each year. They are sold at the age of around 16 weeks to be used for drugs and chemical testing. Since 2020, protests have been held around the facility by

animal rights Animal rights is the philosophy according to which many or all Animal consciousness, sentient animals have Moral patienthood, moral worth independent of their Utilitarianism, utility to humans, and that their most basic interests—such as ...

activists.

History

2021

The camp was first set up in June 2021. Footage of dogs from the facility published by the ''

Daily Mirror The ''Daily Mirror'' is a British national daily Tabloid journalism, tabloid newspaper. Founded in 1903, it is part of Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), which is owned by parent company Reach plc. From 1985 to 1987, and from 1997 to 2002, the tit ...

'' led to increased support of the campaign. The protesters argue that the facility is

factory farming Intensive animal farming, industrial livestock production, and macro-farms, also known as factory farming, is a type of intensive agriculture, specifically an approach to mass animal husbandry designed to maximize production while minimizing co ...

beagles. MBR issued a statement saying that the protesters are misinformed and that breeding of animals is essential for medical research. The statement also stated that the facility is both regulated and frequently inspected by the

Home Office The Home Office (HO), also known (especially in official papers and when referred to in Parliament) as the Home Department, is the United Kingdom's interior ministry. It is responsible for public safety and policing, border security, immigr ...

which enforces strict laws around

animal welfare Animal welfare is the quality of life and overall well-being of animals. Formal standards of animal welfare vary between contexts, but are debated mostly by animal welfare groups, legislators, and academics. Animal welfare science uses measures ...

in research facilities. Actors

Ricky Gervais Ricky Dene Gervais ( ; born 25 June 1961) is an English comedian, actor, writer, television producer and filmmaker. He co-created, co-wrote, and acted in the British television sitcoms ''The Office (British TV series), The Office'' (2001–2003) ...

and

Peter Egan Peter Joseph Egan (born 28 September 1946) is a British actor. He is known for television roles including Hogarth in '' Big Breadwinner Hog'' (1969), the future King George IV in ''Prince Regent'' (1979); smooth neighbour Paul Ryman in the sitco ...

have voiced their support for the facility to be closed down. In August, ''

The Times ''The Times'' is a British Newspaper#Daily, daily Newspaper#National, national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its modern name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its si ...

'' published a letter signed by in support of MBR Acres and its contribution to medical research to nineteen scientific societies and organizations. On 28 August, Camp Beagle coordinated a protest with Animal Rebellion at

Smithfield Market Smithfield, properly known as West Smithfield, is a district located in Central London, part of Farringdon Without, the most westerly Wards of the City of London, ward of the City of London, England. Smithfield is home to a number of City in ...

in London. 15 activists were arrested on 31 August for "suspected obstruction of the highway or of criminal damage." Following a High Court injunction hearing instigated by MBR Acres, it was ruled, on 5 October, that the camp was allowed to remain, with the provision that activists must remain at least 10 metres from the gates. In October, a Freedom of Information Request revealed that

Cambridgeshire Constabulary Cambridgeshire Constabulary is the local territorial police force that covers the county of Cambridgeshire and the Peterborough district of the ceremonial county of Cambridgeshire administered by the unitary authority of Peterborough City Co ...

spent from 27 June to 14 September 2021 on policing the camp. According to protesters, "more than 40 officers and 10 police vans" were used during a day of transportation in October. The following month, the singer

Will Young William Robert Young (born 20 January 1979) is an English singer, songwriter and actor. He came to prominence after winning the 2002 inaugural series of the ITV talent contest '' Pop Idol'', making him the first winner of the worldwide '' Ido ...

handcuffed himself to the gates of the facility, describing the facility as a "puppy farm".

2022

In December 2022, activists from Animal Rebellion freed 18 beagles from the facility. Two beagles known as Libby and Love – that were recovered by police – were later returned to the facility, and 14 people were arrested as part of an investigation into burglary and aggravated trespass at the site.

2023

In July 2023, nine campaigners were found guilty of aggravated trespass, and were given

conditional discharge A discharge is a type of sentence imposed by a court whereby no punishment is imposed. An absolute discharge is an unconditional discharge whereby the court finds that a crime has technically been committed but that any punishment of the defend ...

s or fines. The

Crown Prosecution Service The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is the principal public agency for conducting criminal prosecutions in England and Wales. It is headed by the Director of Public Prosecutions. The main responsibilities of the CPS are to provide legal adv ...

otherwise dropped charges of burglary against 12 people, stating that "the legal test for going ahead ith the criminal prosecutionshad not been met".

2024

On 25 May 2024, an estimated 400–500 protesters descended upon the camp, as part of a protest billed as "Operation 1,000", in an attempt to attract 1,000 protesters to the camp. Cambridgeshire Police closed the nearby road due to the number of demonstrators in attendance.

References

{{Animal testing navbox 2021 protests 2022 protests 2023 protests 2024 protests Animal rights protests Animal testing in the United Kingdom Animal welfare and rights in England Anti-vivisection movement Dog breeding Dogs in the United Kingdom Protest camps Protests in England Organisations based in Cambridgeshire 2025 protests