§ Michael FabricantTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department is taking to limit the activities of animal rights activists. [168981]
§ Caroline FlintThe Government are determined to ensure that business activities in this area are not prevented by the unlawful activities of a small number of people. A ministerial committee is meeting regularly to look at the problem of animal rights extremism.
There are extensive powers available to the police in the general law. In addition we have made a number of changes to strengthen the law to deal with extremists. The Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 strengthened police powers to deal with smaller, intimidatory protests and 1693W office occupations by extremists. A new police unit has been set up with Government funding to provide tactical guidance on policing extremists. The new unit complements work 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.