Verbal Abuse by Salmon Farming Proponent Prompts Police Scotland Warning - does this abusive man work at the sawmill or @MowiScotlandLtd @scotseafarms @salmon_scottish @SSPOsays @Ferguson_TPT ? https://t.co/aRduWQm0z1 @policescotland @pressjournal @HamishMacdonell pic.twitter.com/NVY838s4t3
— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) August 18, 2020
When shopping on holiday with my family in Scotland last week (14 August 2020) I got more than I bargained for at a Coop supermarket near Fort William.
"Fuck off - go back home," said an abusive man as I stood at the checkout. "You're not welcome here," he continued as he lifted off his face mask just a few feet away at the coffee machine. The nasty man (believed to work for Norwegian-owned Mowi although he claimed on camera to work for the sawmill) proceeded to spit verbal venom and launched into abusive tirade laden with expletives for several minutes which shocked both myself and the Coop check-out worker. Sadly, I did not have my phone with me but I just had time to retrieve it from my car to capture him on camera leaving the Coop and getting into his car (making a note of the registration number).
Trucks with Mowi (formerly Marine Harvest) written on the side were parked outside the Coop as the abusive man drove off.
The next day I visited the Police station in Fort William to file a complaint for verbal abuse and intimidating behaviour. The PC on duty explained that it was a clear cut case of abuse and that charges could be pressed or a warning could be given to the abuser. The PC phoned this morning (18 August 2020) to say that Police Scotland had visited the abuser and warned him against committing a similar crime.
It would be ironic if the abusive man turned out to work for Norwegian-owned Mowi - a company which many people around the world want to go back home to Norway.
Last year Mowi offered to close down two salmon farms on the West coast of Scotland in exchange for relocation to offshore waters. BBC News reported:
Read more via:
Policing Scottish Salmon - Police Scotland Acting as Private Security for Scottish Sea Farms?
Complaint re. MOWI's reckless behaviour & subsequent fatality in Loch Alsh
Deadly Mowi - the Horror Story Continues!
Probe launched following death of Highland fish farm worker
Fighting Mowi's Legal Action Over Filming at Salmon Farms
Protest "Poses Serious Risk to Our Salmon" Claim Scottish Sea Farms - Who's Calling Who "Dangerous"?
Video sparks HSE scrutiny of Mowi in Loch Linnhe
Police Scotland Acting as Private Security Enforcement for Norwegian-Owned Scottish Sea Farms?