Clampdown on animal extremists

The government supports an animal research centre at Oxford University

Ministers are planning new laws to clamp down on animal rights extremists, it has been announced.

Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt said the Government would "toughen" laws to stop "terrorists and thugs" protesting at workers' homes.

The news comes after a leading City organisation said it may take legal action against extremists.

That followed a rash of cases in which firms with animal research links had executives and shareholders threatened.

David Blunkett and I are now consulting with industry and the police and others on how we toughen the law further to make sure we stop this problem Patricia Hewitt

Speaking to Channel 4 News, Ms Hewitt also pledged the government's backing to build a controversial £18m animal research centre at Oxford University.

She said: "David Blunkett and I are now consulting with industry and the police and others on how we toughen the law further to make sure we stop this problem."

As well as planned changes in the law, the government would also be encouraging police officers to use measures already at their disposal.

A senior police officer and top civil servants were now dedicated to gathering effective intelligence on activists, she added.

Earlier, The Times had reported that the National Association of Pension Funds, whose members look after £650bn worth of funds, was considering civil action against animal rights extremists.

Share price drop

Extremists were blamed when a building contractor pulled out of work on the controversial animal research centre at Oxford last week.

Shareholders received threatening letters, leading to a temporary drop in the company's share prices.

But Oxford University officials say they remain committed to the project which will see mice, amphibians and monkeys being used in the search for cures for conditions like leukaemia, Alzheimer's and asthma and others.

On Saturday, animal rights campaigners protested at the Oxford site.

About 500 people took part in a peaceful march, according to a BBC correspondent.

Demonstration

In January, Cambridge University shelved plans for a multi-million pound primate research centre in the face of escalating costs, partly caused by the expected need to protect it from animal rights activists.

Figures published two months ago showed protesters had stepped up campaigns of violence and intimidation against scientists.

According to the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry statistics, there were 46 instances of damage to personal, company and public property between January and March this year - more than double the number in the first quarter of 2003.

Animal protesters

The British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection says it is important that animal protesters are not classed as terrorists.

"We would never support violence either against animals or people - we are a peaceful organisation and that is fundamental to our course," said a spokeswoman.

"The government should engage in a proper debate about vivisection and listen to the many, many people who have legitimate concerns and strong arguments and not allow all of us to be labelled as terrorists and extremists."

Liberal Democrat MP Ed Davey, who sits on the Commons science and technology committee, said scientists should be protected because there was a danger of "losing significant" investment if medical research went abroad where standards of animal welfare were "lower than in Britain", he said.