Moira Roberts of the Bobby Roberts Super Circus received a warning from the police under Section 5 of the Public Order Act after threatening a peaceful protester on a demonstration last Saturday at a performance in Huntingdon. Roberts pointed a fist at a protester and claimed she would “f**king deck” the protester if he continued to document her behaviour on his camera phone.

On a previous demonstration last Wednesday Moira Roberts threatened to toe a protester’s car and claimed that she would criminally damage it. She then went on to threaten to toe a car of one of her own customers in the belief it belonged to the protesters.

The campaigners were protesting against the circus’ continued use of animals that is widely viewed as unacceptable even among ‘moderate’ animal welfare campaigners such as the RSPCA. They specifically highlighted the plight of Anne believed to be Britain’s last circus elephant. Although Anne is no longer used in the ring she is still the subject of paid photographs and continues to be dragged around the country without any companionship from her own species, without adequate space to exercise and despite having arthritis.

Wildlife charity the Born Free Foundation are calling for the circus to look at the options for retiring Anne and The Captive Animals Protection Society say that suitable accommodation can be arranged for Anne if the circus are willing to let her go.

The campaigners were pleased with the amount of local press coverage received, with ITV Anglia News, The Cambridge Evening News, The Hunts Post and BBC Radio Cambridgeshire all covering the story. A good response was also received from members of the public when leafleting took place in Huntingdon itself with mums who had visited the circus upset by the animal acts.

The campaigners urge the public to boycott all animal circuses and ask that if anyone sees anything that has upset them in relation to the care of circus animals they contact The Captive Animals Protection Society (this can even be done anonymously if needs be). See  http://www.captiveanimals.org/contact.htm

Of course if an animal is in danger or being unlawfully abused please contact the police and the RSPCA immediately.

Bobby Roberts Super Circus will be in Hitchin (Butts Close – Bedford Road, Fishponds Road) from 1st – 6th April 08, please go and show your disgust (lawfully) if you can get to the area.

Learn More about Bobby Roberts

Advertising Standards Slams Bobby Roberts:
 http://www.asa.org.uk/asa/adjudications/Public/TF_ADJ_41917.htm

The Plight of Anne:
 http://www.captiveanimals.org/elephants/anne.htm
 http://www.captiveanimals.org/news/2007/retirement.html

!!! IMPORTANT !!!: One visitor to the circus was so unhappy about what they saw that they wrote a report. The account will soon be published in full so watch the Indymedia newswire!