January 31, 2005

scientists welcome crackdown on animal extremism

Reactions to the Governments’ amendment to the Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill making it a criminal offence to cause ‘economic damage’ through campaigns of intimidation.

MRC Chief Executive Professor Colin Blakemore, said:

“The Medical Research Council (MRC) welcomes the government’s measures to prevent extremists targeting firms doing business with animal research facilities. It is essential that researchers and those working with them are able to carry out their work without fear of intimidation. Britain has the strictest laws in the world controlling the use of animals in research and animals can’t be used if there is an alternative.”

Mr David Holmes, The University of Oxford’s Registrar, said:

“Oxford University has recently committed significant resources to action in the Courts to obtain an injunction to protect people associated with us and our new £18m biomedical research facility from harassment and violence. The campaign of direct action and intimidation waged against some of the companies and individuals working with us on this project has been well documented, and led to work halting temporarily on site. Oxford University therefore welcomes any reasonable legislation that can offer protection to suppliers and contractors without impeding peaceful and lawful protest. We await with interest further information on the details of the Government’s proposals.”

A spokesman for Victims of Animal Rights Extremism (VARE), said:

“All sorts of people have been harassed and attacked by animal rights extremists. For many victims it has been a fearsome and life-changing experience. They are even too frightened to come out into the open for fear of reprisals. If the Government can clamp down on the people who orchestrate these vicious campaigns then we hope it will put an end to this intimidation.”

Dr Simon Festing, Executive Director, Research Defence Society, said:

“Animal rights extremism is out of control. It’s time something was done about these zealots. If they’re not stopped, they could do irreparable damage to medical research in the UK, and patients will suffer as a result. We hope that the latest Government proposals are the answer.”

Diana Garnham, Chief Executive of the Association of Medical Research Charities, said:

“This is great news. It is really important that all those involved in medical research including the support businesses, should be protected from intimidation and harassment but it required real commitment from the Government to recognise the need to protect organisations from harassment intended to hurt them financial damage. Unchecked, the extremists campaigns put important research at risk and posed a real threat to the position of the UK as a world leader in medical research.”

Dr Richard Barker, ABPI Director General, said:

“The Association of British Pharmaceutical Industries welcomes this confirmation of the Government’s determination to deal with the extremists and pharmaceutical companies will see this as a watershed not just in terms of removing a key concern about further investment in to the UK, but also in the drive to develop new medicines for patients.”