We strongly oppose draconian and unlawful proposal
We are deeply disappointed that MPs have voted to pass proposals which would criminalise peaceful?protest against animal research, and we now call on the House of Lords to reject it.
The vote on amendments to the Public Order Act 2023 was passed by 301 votes to 110 in the House of Commons, and the Lords is now expected to vote on the matter on Wednesday 21 January. If passed, the regulations, which would penalise protests with up to 12 months’ imprisonment and unlimited fines, would become law seven days later.
The proposal seeks to classify?’life sciences infrastructure’?(including animal research and breeding facilities) as?’key national infrastructure’?under the Public Order Act 2023. We suggest that this is a significant overreach as such facilities cannot reasonably be?considered critical infrastructure.
The current list of key national infrastructure includes facilities which support road, rail and air transport, harbours, the exploration, production and transportation of oil and gas, onshore electricity generation, and newspaper printing. Set against this list, the addition of life sciences infrastructure is clearly inconsistent.
The measures therefore threaten to unreasonably restrict fundamental rights to protest?which are?protected under UK law and the European Convention on Human Rights.?
The government?has given two reasons for this change: pandemic preparedness and the need to protect?Life Sciences companies.?However, there is no suggestion that protesters interfered in any way with the development of Coronavirus vaccines, and pharmaceutical companies which have threatened to?relocate?away from the UK have said that their concerns are based on?regulatory or economic pressures, not protests.
Existing police powers already address protest-related concerns?and there is no evidence that these are inadequate. In developing these proposals, there has been no consultation with animal protection or civil liberties organisations.
Our Head of Public Affairs, Dylan Underhill, said: “We believe that the draft regulations are?illiberal, draconian, unnecessary, and?almost certainly?unlawful. Criminalising peaceful protest against?animal research undermines fundamental freedoms and public accountability.
“This is an unjustified attack on democratic rights, and risks setting a dangerous precedent?towards?an ever-growing?restriction?of?peaceful protest. It should have been rejected outright by MPs but now the House of Lords must reject it to ensure these regulations do not pass into law.
“We are deeply disappointed that such a major change is being pursued through a process that does not allow for substantive Parliamentary debate or public scrutiny. We encourage Parliamentarians to?seek clarity on the scope of activities intended to be criminalised and to question Ministers on the lack of evidence, the discriminatory nature of the proposal, and its compatibility with?the rights of the British people to carry out non-violent protest in relation to a topic on which opinion surveys have repeatedly demonstrated strong public concern.”
We urge House of Lords to reject Public Order Act amendments
