TWELVE people have been charged as part of a European crackdown on alleged animal rights extremism.
Operation Achilles, led by Hampshire Police, resulted in 32 arrests across the UK following dawn raids on May 1.
Freshfields Animal Rescue Centre, in Ince Blundell, became one of the premises caught up in police searches.
However, no arrests were made at the East Lane site in relation to the operation.
The day after the raids, seven people from the Hampshire, Thames Valley, South Wales, and Metropolitan police areas were charged with conspiracy to blackmail and will appear before magistrates this month.
A husband and wife, from Hampshire, were also charged with the same offence and remanded in custody by magistrates pending an appearance at Portsmouth Crown Court later this month.
Another two people, from the Lancashire and North Yorkshire areas, have been charged with blackmail.
The other 20 people arrested were released on police bail and one freed without charge.
A conspiracy to blackmail charge was also brought on a 40 year old Hampshire woman .
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