Royal Society - New measures are great step towards ending campaigns of terror that hinder research

Monday, 31, Jan 2005 12:00

Professor Barry Keverne, chairman of the Royal Society's animal's in research committee, has welcomed new measures unveiled today as "a great step" towards cracking down on animal rights extremism.

He said: "Animal rights extremism can wreak terrible consequences on the lives and work of scientists conducting vital research, as well as the companies that supply them. These new measures appear to be a great step towards ending the campaigns of terror that disrupt research." He added: "This Bill should prevent a re-run of the situation at Oxford University last year where a contractor was forced to pull out of building a new science centre when it was targeted by extremists. While we accept the right to legitimate protest, it is clearly unacceptable for universities and businesses to have to obtain security injunctions because they are involved with legitimate and important research."