Direct action does not always need to be in the remit of the law, but if it isn’t, those participating should be prepared to accept the consequences.

That was just one of the statements made at a debate at the Directory of Social Change’s Charity Fair yesterday.

Entitled Is direct action, reliable action, the debate featured speeches by Matt O’Connor, founder and managing director of Fathers 4 Justice (F4J), John Stoker, former chief charity commissioner and Diana Garnham, Chief Executive of the Association of Medical Research Charities.

While all the speakers agreed that direct action should not be conducted in a way that harms other people, there was less concurrence about whether or not it was an effective means of campaigning. While Garnham raised the issue of how extremist animal rights protesters using aggressive tactics have hurt their own cause as legislation is now being introduced against them, F4J's O’Connor said it was only after his organisation had turned to high profile activity that government began to take notice.

“We are able to do this type of action though because we kowtow to no one, as we are funded only through membership and voluntary contributions,” he added.

The closing statement was made by Stoker who said: “Direct action will get the attention of politicians but when they do look at the organisation in question, it must have a valid, strong argument to back its action up, otherwise it will have been a waste of time”.