ACPO - New measures to tackle animal rights extremists welcome but too narrow

Monday, 31, Jan 2005 12:00

Assistant Chief Constable Anton Setchell, ACPO national coordinator for domestic extremism today expressed disappointment that new measures designed to tackle animal rights extremism did not extend to other groups.

He said: "Whilst the measures announced today will help Police forces and the Crown Prosecution Service to detain and prosecute those people who commit Animal Rights extremism offences, we are concerned that the amendment has been narrowly drafted and focused solely on animal rights extremism. This was an opportunity to legislate for the offending behaviour of a much wider range of extremist groups who copy the tactics of each other." Although, he expressed concern at the "extremely limited nature of the consultation" that took place, he welcomed additional powers to tackle animal rights extremists, adding the police would "continue to use considerable resources and a co-ordinated approach to bring those who go outside the law to justice."