I have every sympathy with Dave Strong, who has had to wait two weeks for the police to make contact about vandals causing damage to vehicles, even though caught on CCTV (The Argus, December 8).

What you should have done, Mr Strong, was to have told the police you thought they may have been animal rights campaigners causing the damage.

I can guarantee your case would have received priority.

We are the ones that carry no weapons and no armour, just placards and leaflets, and try to make the public aware of cruelty to animals, whether it be the use of fur, hunting with dogs, fishing or slaughterhouses.

But always our penalty is to be labelled terrorist, anti-establishment and trouble-causers.

Wherever we go, within minutes there are squad cars, flashing lights, police riot vans, shields and, on many occasions, helicopters.

So give it a try - if you think the system is failing you, use our good name and response you shall get. Sad, but true.

-Anne Norton, Eastbourne