By DAVID SOUTHWELL, NEWS REPORTER

Published: | Updated: 19:40 EST, 25 December 2023

Vegan activist Tash Peterson has been arrested after a tense stand-off with police who turned up at the doorstep of the house where she was spending Christmas Day.

Video posted by Ms Peterson on Monday shows a male West Australian officer talking to her through the front fly screen door of a house with an argument breaking out about whether police can enter the home without a warrant.

Ms Peterson is told she is being arrested on suspicion of criminal damage for a Sunday protest at a butchers in a Perth shopping mall where she posted video of herself pouring fake blood over a glass display case of meats.

Vegan activist Tash Peterson has posted a video of a tense stand-off with police who turned up on a doorstep to arrest her on Christmas Day

The officers ask for the white t-shirt she was wearing during the incident to use as evidence but this leads to argument over whether the officers can enter the house to search for the item without a warrant.

An older woman tells the officer its her home and they can't come in unless they have a warrant. 

'We’ve got power to enter and search for it (the shirt) where a suspect is arrested,' the officer says.

'We’re going to come in and search for it. I’ve asked for your consent but it you don’t consent we are going to come in and search anyway.

'I’d appreciate if you’d just come and grab it and we will get out of your hair.'

Eventually the garment, which features a picture of a pig in a slaughter house underneath the slogan 'End this Holocaust', is fetched from home's interior.

Video then displays Ms Peterson being patted down by a female officer before climbing into the back seat of an unmarked police vehicle. 

After the white t-shirt police were after is finally given to them Ms Peterson is shown being patted down and put in an unmarked police vehicle

After the white t-shirt police were after is finally given to them Ms Peterson is shown being patted down and put in an unmarked police vehicle

'The saddest part about this arrest is that they seized my new shirt!!,' Ms Peterson writes in a Facebook post accompanying the video.

'Result of yesterday's protest is one charge of "Criminal Damage" (even though the stage fake blood isn't permanent and easily washed off, they have still given me this charge) and one charge of "Disorderly Conduct". 

'Court appearance is on the 8th Jan.'

The protest, which was filmed by Ms Peterson's associates, involved fake blood being poured over the glass counter of the Perth butcher's display cabinet.

After the scarlet liquid is poured from a drink container Ms Peterson and her supporters get involved in a series of running battles and scuffles with Tenderwest staff and passers-by.

The arrest was over a protest staged at a butchers in a Perth shopping mall where Ms Peterson poured fake blood over the glass display case

The arrest was over a protest staged at a butchers in a Perth shopping mall where Ms Peterson poured fake blood over the glass display case

Ms Peterson posted video of the incident on Saturday, with the caption: 'Stop celebrating Christmas with a holocaust'.

Before the protest Ms Peterson makes a speech to camera. 

'These are the victims of your Christmas meal, your everyday choices end this holocaust end animal slavery by living vegan,' she says indicating the pig on her shirt.

'This is my Christmas message for everyone. If you are not vegan you are responsible for the largest holocaust in history, the animal holocaust.'

In June Ms Peterson was issued with a 12-month ban from entering any venues that serve alcohol after becoming involved in an ongoing feud with UK celebrity chef John Mountain at his Perth restaurant Fyre.

Following her pouring the fake blood there were a series of tussles between Ms Peterson the buthers staff and members of the general public

Following her pouring the fake blood there were a series of tussles between Ms Peterson the buthers staff and members of the general public

After being annoyed by a customer Mr Mountain banned vegans from his restaurant prompting Ms Peterson to protest outside his venue where she disturbed diners by playing loud audio of squealing pigs while shouting about the 'animal apocalypse'.

This led to a scuffles between her and her supporters with Mr Mountain, his staff and other members of the general public. 

The showdown became international news with UK talk show host Piers Morgan bringing Ms Peterson on his show for a confrontational interview.

West Australian police have been contacted for comment. 

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