Universities want more protection from animal rights extremists

Monday, 15 November 2004 12:00 AM

Scientists working in animal research at universities may not covered by Government proposals seeking to protect researchers from harassment, according to the Royal Society.

A recent survey by the Royal Society estimated that universities face an annual security bill of £9 million to prevent action from what it terms "animal terrorists" and is urging the Government to take action to reduce this bill.

In July, the Government announced plans to provide greater protection for scientists working in animal rights research. Home Office Minister Caroline Flint, said at the time that it was determined to protect those who work in bioscience, saying: "It is wholly unacceptable that a small number of criminal extremists attempt to stop individuals and companies going about their legitimate business. Their tactics of intimidation and violence are deplorable and I am determined to do everything in my power to put an end to it."

Tough measures announced included giving the police powers to arrest individuals protesting outside someone's home, and subsequently exclude them from the vicinity for three months, and extending the provisions of anti-harassment legislation to provide greater protection for company employees.

However, the Royal Society is concerned that these provisions fail to explicitly mention the threat posed to researchers at universities and publicly-funded institutions, although commercial companies are mentioned.

It argues that the recent Home Office consultation on "Policing: Modernising Police Powers to Meet Community Needs", and its statement of intent to protect animal researchers in "Animal Welfare - Human Rights: protecting people from animal rights extremists" failed to recognise concerns about the security of university researchers.

The Government though insists that it is working to ensure all scientific researchers are protected.

Professor Barry Keverne, who chairs the Royal Society's committee on animals in research, said that the lack of explicit assurances was a "glaring omission".

He added: "Scientists carrying out research on animals in universities suffer the same kind of harassment from animal extremists as those working in industry yet the Government appears not to recognise this."

In its submission to the modernisation of police powers consultation, the Royal Society welcomed the "signal" of intent given by the Government, but said: "We hope that university scientists will be given the same protection and assurances as those working in business and industry, but the failure to overtly mention protection of research institutions is disappointing. Without the explicit protection by the police, these individuals will be unable to carry out their work in safety."

A spokesman for the Home Office told politics.co.uk that the provisions would cover scientists working in universities. He said the Government recognised the threat posed and was "committed to protecting" all those working in animal research - whether in the public or private sector.

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