30 years after the founding of the Animal Liberation Front (back in 1976), are we seeing the beginning of the end of that movement?

As reported in many of today’s papers, three animal rights extremists have admitted blackmailing the owners of the Newchurch guinea pig farm over a period of six years. This is a serious crime, for which they face possible jail sentences of up to 12 years.

For this, we would like to thank the hard work of all of the police forces involved, and congratulate them on the result.

What we find interesting is the ages of the defendants, 36, 39 and 36. One of them is a vicar’s son and supply teacher. These are no young firebrands. Rather, they are hardcore activists and weary veterans of an ageing animal rights movement. For some time the extremists have been complaining of the difficulties of getting new recruits to their cause. The recent string of convictions and bad publicity for the animal rights militants can hardly have helped.

Some of those accused could be well into in their forties when they get out of jail. Eventually they will run out of steam, just like the rest of the animal rights movement.