On 31 January, UK Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt announced a new law to curtail activities of British animal rights extremists against British businesses1,2,3. In her statement, Hewitt explained “This new law would not affect the important right to peaceful protests, while cracking down hard on those extremists committing crimes—and some horrific acts—against innocent people involved in the supply chain... Extremists are also ruining the lives and livelihoods of people and communities. This is totally unacceptable and our new laws will come with a maximum five year sentence. These measures will give firms and individuals the security to go about their everyday business4.”

The new laws, which come in the form of amendments to the Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill5, will make it an offence “to use criminal actions or acts against civil law, with the intention of threatening or interfering in contracts or other commercial arrangements involving an animal research organisation”, and “to threaten someone with an unlawful act because they are connected to an animal research organisation, whether as a supplier, customer, or other associate, even at several removes4”. The amendments will not affect protests or action by organizations such as trade unions or product boycotts.

Almost 200 cases of damage to laboratory properties, and more than 100 attacks on private homes occurred in the UK last year6. This new law would give police more powers to apprehend attackers of businesses in the supply chain, company employees and their family members, charity shops and universities4. Persons who intimidate or cau se economic damage to these entities will be prosecuted and may be sentenced for up to 5 years in prison.