Flurry of activity against animal extremism in UK

Following GlaxoSmithKline's (GSK) successful obtaining of an injunction against animal extremists who had sent letters to the company's private shareholders demanding that they sell their shares in the company, the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) has called on businesses "that have in the past given in to threats by the extremists" to "review their policies and stand together with those whose rights are threatened".

The letters, which were sent in early May, cited GSK's continued use of contract research organisation Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS) as a reason for the threats. The injunction, which was issued by the High Court in London, "prohibits anyone acting, in connection with the letter sent out on 1 May, from engaging in further harassment against GSK shareholders, including publicising their details on a website. Any person found in breach of the injunction could face prosecution for contempt of court, which is an imprisonable offence," stated GSK.

"The Company is determined to make every effort to protect its shareholders and this injunction supports those efforts being made by the Police, who are taking this matter very seriously, and are conducting a criminal investigation into these matters," the company added.

The ABPI has also spoken out in support of Tony Blair, the British Prime Minister, who recently published an article in a Sunday newspaper announcing his intentions to sign "The People's Petition", an online petition in support of animal testing; and "leading City Investment houses" who spoke out in the Financial Times of their intention to stand by any shareholders threatened by animal extremists.

"Crucially, we are now seeing a change in public attitudes as well as the law," read Blair's article. "We are now seeing very welcome signs of both individuals and firms being ready to stand up publicly to intimidation and making clear this tiny extremist fringe is out of touch with public opinion."

Indeed, January 2006 saw the formation of Pro-Test, a non-violent organisation funded by voluntary donations and a grant from the Research Defence Society that aims to "counter the irrational arguments of anti-vivisectionists by raising public awareness of the benefits of animal research and [create] an environment where scientists can speak out about their work and be proud of the contributions they make".

Dr Richard Barker, director general of the ABPI, also welcomed Blair's pledge that: "If more measures are needed to protect individuals, universities and firms or to root out the criminal extremist fringe, we will provide them".

"At the moment, the number of violent incidents seems to be on the decline, but anonymous threats to ordinary shareholders is yet more evidence that there are people in this movement who will stop at nothing," said Barker. "It is reassuring to see that the Prime Minister is willing to consider any other action that may become necessary.

"The British public is fed up with a campaign of terror which, if successful, would mean the end of much medicines research in this country," he added "It is high time that we all joined together to stand up to the bully-boys of animal extremism."

The announcements follow the recent jailing for 12 years of three animal rights extremists who stole the body of Gladys Hammond from her grave because of her connections with Darley Oaks Farm - a farm which bred guinea pigs for vivisection until January 2006, when it was forced to cease as a result of prolonged extremist activity.