§ Michael FabricantTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many animal rights activists have been arrested in the last 36 months, broken down by the type of offence for which they were arrested; how many were convicted; and what sentences were passed on those convicted. [168982]
§ Caroline FlintIt is not possible from the information collected centrally by the Home Office to identify whether a defendant is an animal rights activist.
However we understand from the police that there were 117 arrests of animal rights activists during the first four months of 2004 compared with 15 arrests during the same period in 2003.
§ Michael FabricantTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many companies and organisations have reported illegal actions against them over the last 24 months by animal rights activists. [172057]
§ Caroline FlintIt is not possible from the information collected centrally by the Home Office to identify whether a victim of crime works in a company or organisation targeted by animal rights extremists. The Government are working closely with industry, the police and other criminal justice agencies to protect those who work in the pharmaceutical and bioscience industries and their suppliers.
§ Michael FabricantTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans his Department has to introduce legislation to restrict the activities of animal rights activists; and if he will make a statement. [172061]
§ Caroline FlintThe police have a range of powers under existing criminal law and public order legislation to deal with the unlawful activities of animal rights extremists. Changes to legislation have been made to strengthen police powers to deal with intimidatory protests and office occupations in the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003.
We are looking carefully at whether further action is needed to strengthen police powers to deal with the tactics employed by extremist protestors.