Animal rights extremism
The most common form of domestic extremism in the UK is animal rights extremism (ARE).
A primary goal of animal rights campaigners is to stop animal research. While the majority of animal rights protesters campaign lawfully, a minority seeks to force change through criminal action.
Animal rights extremists have conducted a sustained campaign of harassment and intimidation against the animal research industry, seeking to achieve their objectives by creating a climate of fear.
To animal rights extremists any organisations and individuals with links, however tenuous, to the animal research industry are justifiable targets. ARE tactics include targeting people at home and in their communities, as well as targeting business locations.
The impact of these activities can be deeply distressing. This creates a high perception of threat from animal rights extremists. However, the number of ARE attacks is in fact very small in relation to other types of crime.
Government is determined to stand up to domestic extremism and ARE crime. NETCU together with government departments and agencies, the police service and other organisations in the criminal justice system, business and the academic sector are working in close partnership to deliver a national response to domestic extremist crime that will:
- ensure that lawful and properly conducted research and business can take place freely in the UK by ending the threat of unlawful disruption and intimidation by animal rights extremists
- deter, disrupt and prosecute animal rights extremists so that they no longer pose a threat from unlawful direct action.
