§ Dr. GibsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government take to tackle intimidation of workers and firms providing services to companies and universities carrying out research on animals. [167400]
§ Caroline FlintWe have made a number of changes to strengthen the law to deal with extremists. The Antisocial Behaviour Act 2003 strengthened police powers to deal with smaller, intimidatory protests and office occupations by extremists. The police are using these new powers effectively. A new police unit has been set up with Government funding to provide tactical guidance on policing extremists. The new unit complements work already going on in local forces and nationally.
A National Forum on policing and prosecution of animal rights cases has been established in order to pull together individual areas of expertise within the police, Crown Prosecution Service and the courts to create a national strategic approach to dealing with animal rights extremists.
We have produced guidance for security managers of companies who might be targeted by extremists, to help ensure their employees' personal safety. A ministerial committee is meeting regularly to look at the problem of animal rights extremism.