Wivenhoe: GM crop site wrecked by protesters

Large parts of the crop at Sunnymead Farm, Wivenhoe, were destroyed in the early hours of this morning (Thursday) by campaigners who used 4ft wooden planks and their own bodies to flatten the field.

Areas of the 15-acre maize crop as big as about 50 metres wide were damaged.

The protesters arrived at the farm in several cars at about 1.30am and some got into the field through a gap in the hedge on nearby Keelars Lane.

A police patrol car from Mistley, thought to be acting on a tip-off, arrived at the farm at just after 2am and two officers from Brightlingsea arrived an hour later.

Officers went into the field at 3.10am after hearing strange noises and using high-powered "dragon" torches they quickly found a group of three men.

Another eight people - six women and two men - were later discovered in the field.

The 11, who are all believed to be local, were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and were this morning being held at Colchester police station.

None of the arrested were armed and all seemed in good spirits as they were escorted to waiting police cars on Keelars Lane.

More police officers from Colchester and Harwich were by then arriving at the farm.

A police sniffer dog was also used in the search for the vandals, who were not all found until about 4am.

The controversial GM crop has stirred emotion recently in Wivenhoe.

At a town council meeting in May, residents had called for the crop to be destroyed and in a referendum in the town 88.5 per cent of voters condemned the crop.

North Essex MP Bernard Jenkin, whose constituency includes Wivenhoe, said today (Thursday): "I utterly condemn these extremists who have broken the law and caused criminal damage.

"Essex farmers love their land and care about the plants and animals. This is a scientifically conducted trial which responsible conservationists do not object to."

Moonlight raid - protesters attack GM crops at Wivenhoe

Action was our only option: protesters

The protesters at the genetically-modified crop site in Wivenhoe said they felt they had no option but direct action.

But Jim Dutton, who owns Sunnymead Farm where the crop stood, believes campaigners are trying to stop the inevitable from happening.

A recent referendum, held by the town council, showed 90 per cent of voters were against the GM crop.

One of the arrested people, 31-year-old Andy Abbott, said: "The interests and wishes of local people are ignored in favour of big business. It's the only option we have.

"This is not directed at individuals. It's direct action, it's civil disobedience. But it's very much peaceful civil disobedience."

Mr Abbott, who is unemployed and from Shrub End Road, Colchester, added he and the other protesters were willing to face the consequences of their actions.

"We're all going to be completely accountable for this - no-one's going to run away," he said.

Another protester, a 48-year-old export company worker from Wivenhoe, said as he was led away this morning: "We've asked nicely but this is all that's left to us. I don't want to do this.

"If the police had not come along we would have surrendered ourselves in the morning."

Farmer Mr Dutton said: "GM products are going to come eventually. I've always thought that experimentation was the only way forward.

"It's no good them burying their heads in the sand and trying to stop this."

Mayor of Wivenhoe Richard Davies condemned the events on behalf of the town council.

He said: "We utterly condemn any kind of unlawful act regardless of what direction it is aimed at. They broke the law and they must face the force of the law."

Tara Bacon, a member of CROW (Concerned Residents of Wivenhoe), the campaign group which has been battling against the GM crop trial, said: "CROW had nothing to do with this.

"But I can understand why people would go and do that."

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