Harvey Nichols Injunction To Stop Anti-Fur Protests

Harvey Nichols is seeking an injunction to prevent anti-fur protesters from picketing its stores in England and Wales. The department store has asked the court to restrict how and where those opposing the sale of fur can make their presence felt near its stores.

The formal application requests that protesters be banned from handing out leaflets, using megaphones or loudhailers and congregating within 50m of Harvey Nichols stores. A campaign group calling itself "Heartless Harvey Nichols" maintains that the protests, three of which have taken place in the past month alone, have been peaceful and constitutional and that the order is "an attack on democratic freedoms".

Harvey Nichols

"The order being sought by Harvey Nichols is a direct attack on those who oppose the sale of fur," the group said in a statement today. "If granted, this injunction could result in those people being banned from entering high streets across the country and being prosecuted for entering their stores."

Meanwhile, the department store explained that the injunction was in order to protect its staff: "Harvey Nichols takes the safety of our customers and our staff very seriously. The injunction is a precautionary measure being taken in response to increased activity from anti-fur campaigning groups."