POLICE have warned they “will not tolerate intimidating behaviour” from activists after arresting a vegan campaigner during a “disruptive protest” at a fast food restaurant.

About 20 activists, many in pig and chicken masks, invaded a McDonald’s restaurant in Brighton.

Some spread fake blood over the floor and windows in front of shocked customers while others carried signs with slogans including “ethics over profits”.

Dylan Roffey was arrested and charged with “criminal damage and obstructing or resisting a person assisting a constable in the execution of their duty.

The Argus:

The 23-year-old, of Terminus Road in Brighton, is due to appear at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on June 6.

District Commander Rachel Swinney said: “We will work with organisers to facilitate peaceful protests that balance the rights of those to protest without disproportionately affecting the rights of the general public.

“But we will not tolerate criminal or intimidating behaviour.”

The protest was organised by animal rights protests group Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) Brighton .

On its Facebook page, the group posted an image of the protest accompanied by a quote from Martin Luther King.

It states: “Non-cooperation with evil is as much a moral obligation as is cooperation with good.”

It also posted a picture of a person being arrested during the protest with the caption: “(This is ) What police do when you challenge a violent system that murders trillions and makes billions in profit.”

But people have agreed with the police’s statement that the protests can be “intimidating”.

Ryan Hill, who witnessed the McDonald’s protest, said: “I went past this on the bus with police cars there I saw red stuff on the windows and thought it was tomato sauce.

“I know how vegans feel about animals being tortured, but can our city just be calm?

“Not everyone wants to be vegan.”

DxE Brighton is now planning to host a demonstration at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on June 6, the date Dylan Roffey will appear.

On social media the group has set up an event page called “Solidarity Demo for Arrested”.

On the page a spokesman states: “Protest the systematic speciest violence that is legal and protected in our current exploitative society and show solidarity and support for your fellow animal rights activist.”