Activists having impact on pharma suppliers in UK
their services to companies and organisations engaged in animal
research, according to the Association of the British
Pharmaceutical Industry.
The fourth-quarter of 2004 saw 42 such 'capitulations', or 37 per cent of the year's total, up from 22, 23 and 26 per cent respectively in the previous three quarters of the year. The industry group does not have comparable figures for 2003.
The ABPI has also reported what is said were major increases in the number of abusive or threatening phone calls made to companies engaging in animal research, and a continuing jump in recorded damage to company, personal and public property.
Its data show that the number of threatening and abusive phone calls and other communications totaled 108 in 2004, compared with 38 in 2003 and 23 the previous year. There were 177 instances of damage to company, personal and private property during the year, compared with 146 the previous year and 60 the year before.
"It is very disturbing that, despite the increase in police activity in the past six months of last year, these statistics show that it is not enough in itself. It is essential that the government and parliament implement amendments in the Serious Organised Crime Bill aimed at animal extremists and introduce a new clause protecting regulated companies," said Philip Wright, the ABPI's director of science and technology.
"The fact that more and more suppliers are being forced to drop their business with companies involved in animals research is especially ominous. If this trend continues, it is by no means fanciful to suggest that pharmaceutical companies will seriously consider whether it is still appropriate to carry out this essential research work in the UK," he noted.
On a positive note, the ABPI said that the number of visits to the homes of directors of companies and their employees by activists showed a fall. Visits to directors' homes were down to 90 for the year, from 113 in 2003. But there were only 11 instances in the last quarter, half or less than in any previous quarter. Home visits to employees also fell from 146 in 2003 to 89 last year.
"New legislation and injunctions have had a marked effect in reducing the number of these 'home visits' - which often take place in the middle of the night, accompanied by fireworks or loud-hailers - but the number is still unacceptably high," said Wright.
