Protestors hit by new legislation
The government is set to create a new type of criminal offence that could have a major impact on the ongoing controversy over Oxford University's biomedical facility. The crime of 'economic sabotage by animal rights activists' is to be announced within the next few weeks.
The law is being passed in response to increasing numbers of suppliers pulling out of deals with British drug companies that are involved in animal research, after being put under pressure by animal rights activists.
The Government is worried that the activities of extremists threaten its attempts to make Britain an international centre for life science companies.
Philip Wright, the ABPI's director of science and technology, echoed these fears and said that if the trend continued, it was "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."
However, some MPs have raised concerns that the term 'economic sabotage' is too ambiguous and that it might be used to criminalise protests such as boycotts.
Work on Oxford University's biomedical research facility came to a halt last year after the main contractor, Montpellier pulled out, blaming intimidation by protesters.
Evan Harris, Liberal Democrat MP for Oxford West, said that his constituents had experienced "outrageous intimidatory behaviour" by activists targeting the Oxford University facility.
Robert Cogswell, a spokesman for activist group SPEAK, told The Oxford Student: "once again this is a knee jerk reaction based on spin... laws are already in place to cover these kinds of actions."
The University said it welcomed recent moves by the government to take more seriously the problem of extremism growing in this field.
Work on the University bio-medical facility is expected to be completed this year.
27th Jan 2005