Animal extremists' intimidation scares suppliers

Related tags Novartis Glaxosmithkline Animal testing

Figures released by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical
Industry (ABPI) has revealed that the level of intimidation posed
by animal extremists reaches as far as the suppliers who do
business with companies involved with animal research.

The statistics show that major increases in the number of abusive or threatening phone calls made to companies engaging in animal research accompanied a continuing jump in recorded damage to company, personal and public property.

The last quarter of 2004 showed a total of 42 such "incidences" - 37 per cent of the year's total. It compares with 22, 23 and 26 per cent respectively in the previous three quarters of the year. Comparable figures for 2003 are not available.

Additional figures showed the total number of threatening and abusive phone calls and other communications amounted to 108 during 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.

The figures are a shocking reflection on the extremes animal activists are prepared to go to and reiterate the need for the recently amended Serious Organised Crime Bill, which is aimed at these organisations, to be adequately enforced.

Dr Philip Wright, ABPI​ director of science and technology, said: "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 introduce a new clause protecting regulated companies in the Serious Organised Crime Bill."

The fact that more and more suppliers are being forced to drop their business with companies involved in animal research is worrying. If this trend continues, pharmaceutical companies will seriously consider whether it is still appropriate to carry out this essential research work in the UK.

In November last year, Swiss health care group Novartis became the latest firm to say rights campaigners might force it to rethink investments in Britain.

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) chief executive Jean-Pierre Garnier has been quoted as saying several smaller companies had withdrawn from doing research work in the UK because of fear of attacks.

In January 2004, Cambridge University abandoned plans to build a £32 million (€46 million) neurology centre, in part by protests, some of them violent and plans for a Cambridge primate laboratory had to be scrapped. A planned research laboratory at Oxford University was also halted because of the costs of protecting against attacks.

Scientists working at institutions such as Britain's oldest drug-testing firm, Huntingdon Life Sciences, have long complained militants who oppose their work target them physically and verbally.

Wright added: "That would be a tragedy for the men, women and children of Britain as well as its economy. Also, ironically, for the animals themselves, because the UK has the world's most stringent regulations on the animal welfare."

The figures did reveal that the number of visits to the homes of both directors of companies and their employees showed a fall. Visits to directors' homes were down to 90 for the year, compared with 113 in 2003. Home visits to employees were also down 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.

"The people being targeted are working for tightly regulated companies that produce life-saving medicines, and they are entitled to carry out this essential work free from fear and intimidation,"​ Wright said.

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