Government gets tough on animal rights extremists
11 Jul 2005 by Evoluted New Media
A crackdown on animal rights extremists who intimidate and harass legitimate scientists was implemented last week
A crackdown on animal rights extremists who intimidate and harass legitimate scientists was implemented last week.
It is now a criminal offence to target any scientist, research facility or company in the supply chain with a campaign of unlawful acts including criminal damage, trespass, blackmail and libel. The offence carries the penalty of up to five years in prison and an unlimited fine.
The Serious Organised Crime and Police act will significantly strengthen police powers to tackle protests outside people’s homes and help stop the harassment of laboratories.
Patricia Hewitt, Secretary of State for Health, said: “Animal rights extremists put lives at risk by endangering vital research that tackles diseases like cancer, HIV/AIDS and Alzheimer's which affect millions of people in UK. We will not allow their campaign of intimidation to put these important medical advances at risk."
“People have a right to campaign lawfully against the use of animals in scientific research, but they do not have the right to engage in acts of intimidation or violence against individuals and firms working in this area.” Added home Office Minster, Paul Goggins.
However, peaceful campaign organisations are concerned that their work will be impeded by the legislation. The British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV) said: “we are concerned that these new powers will constitute a serious threat to freedom of expression of anyone who opposes animal experiments.”
The UK has some of the tightest regulations on animal testing in the world. A licensing system, ensuring that permission is granted only when there is no alternative, is implemented by frequent inspections and training. However, some still say that scientists need to be more transparent with their work. “If it's not their responsibility to defend or explain the research they're doing, whose is it? We think they should be making at least some effort," said Simon Festing, executive director of pro-vivisection group the Research Defence Society.
