Government
The Government is working to combat violent and intimidating campaigns by domestic extremists.
Domestic extremism, particularly animal rights extremism, moves beyond the bounds of legitimate protest to intimidate individuals engaged in lawful activity and to impose economic costs on legal businesses.
People have the right to campaign lawfully, but they do not have the right to harass, threaten or attack those involved in lawful business or research. This type of behaviour is criminal and will not be tolerated.
The Human Rights Act 1998 protects the rights of individuals to freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly and association. The Act also protects right of individuals to respect for private and family life.
Domestic extremists are not peaceful protestors carrying out legitimate activity. They have brought campaigns of terror and intimidation to lawful businesses, employees and their families.
In particular, animal rights extremists:
- cause real fear, distress and physical injury and put lives at risk
- hinder essential health advances
- damage economic well being; threaten inward investment and jobs
- undermine a democratic way of life that supports legitimate activity and the legal process.
These tactics are being adopted by other single-issue groups.
The Government is determined to stand up to terror wherever it strikes. It is working with the police and the courts to stamp out the illegal conduct of domestic extremists.
The Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 introduced new powers to deal with:
- protests outside homes
- harassment
- economic damage.
An ACPO National Coordinator for Domestic Extremism (NDCE), appointed in July 2004, is developing a strategic framework to coordinate the policing and investigation of this area of crime and liaison between the criminal justice agencies.
NETCU is a specialist police unit, set up to provide tactical guidance and advice to the police service on good practice, and information to government and industry on domestic extremism and related crimes. NETCU is working together with the other national intelligence and policing units to identify, disrupt and bring to justice domestic extremists, particularly the hard core of offenders at the heart of the extreme cause.
