A town centre cosmetics store has been targeted by vandals over its campaign to stop illegal fox hunting.
The Maidstone-based Lush store, at the top of Gabriel’s Hill, took part in the company’s national campaign last week against fox hunting with hounds – The Hunts Are Still at It – despite the sport being made illegal in 2004.
Since the company launched the campaign on Monday, October 12, a number of its 89 stores have been targeted by fox hunting supporters who have threatened staff and vandalised the shops, including the Maidstone branch.
A kebab was smeared across the shop’s window and ‘F*** you’ was scratched into the glass at some point between 7.30pm on Thursday, October 15 and the following morning.
According to The Independent newspaper a man returned to the Lush store in Chelmsford, Essex, three times to knock over a display of Fabulous Mrs Fox bubble bath bars – which the company is donating proceeds of to the Hunt Saboteurs Association (HSA).
A man threatened staff at a store in Manchester before the launch of the campaign and warned them “there would be trouble” if it went ahead, while in Taunton, Somerset, an anonymous caller told employees to “watch their backs.”
The acts of vandalism have been slammed by the Green party’s parliamentary candidate for Maidstone and the Weald, Stuart Jeffery.
He said: “These disgusting acts by supporters of the disgusting and illegal sport of fox hunting must stop.
"Staff in Lush are hard working and devoted and their company takes a strong stance on many ethical issues such as animal welfare and climate change.
"Lush and its staff must be applauded for this.
“I have written to staff in Maidstone’s Lush expressing my support for them and their campaign.
"I will be writing to the police to take action against people targeting the shop and pressing for the police to make enforcing the fox hunt ban a priority.
“Fox hunting is illegal and barbaric. The law must be upheld and people hunting with dogs must be brought to justice.”
Pro-fox hunting group the Countryside Alliance has been critical of Lush’s campaign but is urging other supporters to stop the abuse on Lush stores and staff.
In a statement the charity said: "It is important to realise that while the rural community is deeply upset at Lush's misguided decision to support the Hunt Saboteurs Association, any sort of direct, abusive or tactical protest, illegal or legal, is not appropriate and such action will most definitely not be supported by the Countryside Alliance."
Police have confirmed an investigation into the vandalism of the Maidstone store has been launched.
POSTED: 19/10/2009 11:08:57
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