HL Deb 07 February 2001 vol 621 cc1151-3

2.54m.

Lord Hylton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What measures they have taken to prevent the intimidation of people engaged in lawful activities; together with associated arson and criminal damage; and whether such measures have had any success.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bassam of Brighton)

My Lords, the Government are committed to doing whatever is necessary to help the police to tackle intimidation. Tough laws exist to protect businesses and individuals from violent or threatening protests, but we intend to strengthen these further to give the police additional powers to ensure that businesses and individuals can go about their business without fear of violence or intimidation. The measures we are proposing will allow the police to take action to prevent extremists protesting outside people's homes and will also strengthen the law against the sending of malicious communications.

Arson and criminal damage are serious criminal offences and perpetrators are liable to arrest and prosecution. The Government are consulting closely with the police service, the Crown Prosecution Service and the courts to achieve an effective and consistent approach to enforcement of the law, focusing particularly on animal rights extremists.

Lord Hylton

My Lords, I thank the Minister for his reply. Does he agree that intimidation has gone quite beyond animal rights terrorism to include such things as last year's fuel protest, numerous attacks on synagogues and mosques in recent months and some intimidation of witnesses? Will the Government seek to mobilise public opinion as well as the police against this kind of behaviour and in protection of public safety and the Queen's peace?

Lord Bassam of Brighton

My Lords, sadly, the various forms of intimidation to which the noble Lord referred have been a feature of modern life for some time. The police do an excellent job in balancing the legitimate rights of peaceful protest with effective enforcement action. Our Government stand firm against intimidation, as we demonstrated clearly last year when the fuel protestors acted in the way they did in certain circumstances. We stand firm against intimidation wherever it comes from. That is our avowed course and intent.

Lord Campbell of Croy

My Lords, will the noble Lord tell the House whether any arrests have been made in recent months arising from personal injury or damage to personal property committed by those who claim to represent animal rights?

Lord Bassam of Brighton

My Lords, I have some statistics for the Cambridgeshire police which indicate that around 200 people have been arrested, reported or warned in connection with protests at the Huntingdon Life Sciences centre between April and December of last year. The latest information suggests that there have not been any arrests since the commencement of this year but that the police have been effective and vigorous in their policing of protests there. They deserve to be supported not just by the Government but also by your Lordships' House and the public at large.

Lord Harris of Greenwich

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that many of us take the view that these attacks on the scientific community by so-called "animal rights activists" are wholly outrageous and that every possible step must be taken to deal with them? Is he aware, following the point made by the noble Lord, Lord Campbell of Croy, that it would be helpful if the Government could get some information from the Crown Prosecution Service and ACPO on the figures for arrests outside the county of Cambridgeshire?

Lord Bassam of Brighton

My Lords, before I answer the question, I hope that I may say how pleased I am to see the noble Lord resume his usual position.

We, of course, design our processes and procedures so that we collect information effectively through the National Public Order Intelligence Unit, which works with the Metropolitan Police and very closely with the ACPO steering group to collate information about arrests of the kind that the noble Lord mentioned. It is important that we collect such information. People need to know that the police are taking a firm grip of the situation; they certainly have done so in places such as Cambridgeshire. As I said earlier, the police deserve our sympathy and support. They have a difficult job to do sometimes in trying circumstances.

Baroness Byford

My Lords, is the Minister aware that it is not just those who are carrying out research on animals who are threatened? I have just come from the National Farmers Union conference. Many farmers are worried about the intimidation that they and their families are subjected to. What are the Government doing about that? The difficulty is that most of these farmers live in rural areas and the Government have failed to provide enough policemen in those areas.

Lord Bassam of Brighton

My Lords, we greatly sympathise with the position of farmers. We want to ensure that they are well protected. Where there are problems, I am sure that farmers make detailed notes of the situation and ensure that their local constabularies are well informed. It is worth reflecting that this Government have done more to ensure that rural police forces are supported than any previous government.

Noble Lords

Oh!

Lord Bassam of Brighton

My Lords, noble Lords groan and wince, but we have ensured that the police funding formula favours rural police forces. We have given specific grants to ensure that police services are well served, well supported and adequately funded.

Lord Graham of Edmonton

My Lords, can the Minister tell the House of violence done to others by members of hunts?

Lord Bassam of Brighton

My Lords, I always like to help the noble Lord but on this occasion I cannot do so.

Lord Cope of Berkeley

My Lords, would the Minister like some information about the violence done to people who pursue a lawful activity—hunting?

The Earl of Onslow

My Lords, for the Minister to sit there looking pained is not good enough.

Lord Acton

My Lords, is the Minister aware that a fox recently bit a hunt protester?

Lord Bassam of Brighton

My Lords, I was not aware of that. People who enjoy such activities should enjoy them for what they are. Some of these questions go far beyond my brief.

The Attorney-General (Lord Williams of Mostyn)

My Lords, we are into the 25th minute of Question Time and there is another important Question.