New law halves UK animal extremist attacks
saw incidents of damage to company, personal and public property,
halve compared to 2004. The figures indicate the effectiveness of
the Serious Organised Crime Act, as a deterrent, which came into
effect halfway through last year.
"In some ways, it shows how successfully the extremists have been blocked from other forms of illegal activity, but violent attacks on individuals is an appalling way of trying to frighten people from carrying out their legitimate business of helping research and develop new medicines," said Philip Wright, Director of Science and Technology at the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI).
The ABPI's figures show that, in 2005, there were 85 instances of damage to property compared with 177 the previous year. Even more encouragingly, only 10 were recorded in the last three months of the year - a significant drop on each of the other quarters.
It wasn't all good news. Although the number of incidents has declined, there has been a significant increase in the number of aggressive attacks.
"Eight incendiary devices, coupled with the fact that there were also six attacks on people causing injury, is a worrying development," commented Wright.
At the same time, the number of abusive or threatening letters and text messages received by companies and their suppliers fell from 108 in 2004 to 36 in 2005.
However, the number of "capitulations" - companies and organisations agreeing not to work with those involved in animal research - remained on a similar level, with 103 in 2005 and 113 in 2004.
"However, I am very hopeful that sustained Government commitment, the recognition by the courts of the severity of the crimes, will combine to reduce the amount of criminal activity still further," said Wright.
"While the figures are undoubtedly encouraging, there is still some way to go. The number of incidents has reduced dramatically, but 85 instances of criminal damage during the year is still 85 instances too many,"
The number of home visits, where demonstrators gather outside the private homes of people working with or for the pharmaceutical industry to make a disturbance, often in the middle of the night, also showed a drop. There were only 57 such visits in 2005, compared with 179 the previous year.
However, the threat is never far away as proven earlier this week when activists admitted to damage to the property of Simon Bicknell, the company secretary at GlaxoSmithKline, who had the words "Paedo scum drop HLS or go bang!" daubed across his garage
A statement on the Animal Liberaton Front's (ALF) website, who claimed responsibility for the attack, stated that they would return unless Bicknell "quits his sick and amoral job."
"Next time it won't just be wet paint we leave on his doorstep," the statement added.
More high profile threats and violent attacks in recent months have targeted property belonging to Oxford University and customers of HLS.
A university boathouse was torched in an attack, while decorators and builders were sent letters warning them dealings with the university were "at your peril."
An incendiary device containing explosive fuel was left outside the house of Paul Blackburn, corporate controller of GlaxoSmithKline.
