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Wednesday, January 19th, 2005
Increasing numbers of suppliers are being forced to stop providing
their services to those engaged in animal research, figures released
by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI)
today show.
The last quarter of 2004 showed a total of 42 such "capitulations"
- 37 per cent of the year's total. It compares with 22, 23 and 26
per cent respectively in the previous three quarters of the year.
Comparable figures for 2003 are not available.
At the same time, the ABPI figures show major increases in the number
of abusive or threatening phone calls made to companies engaging
in animal research, and a continuing jump in recorded damage to
company, personal and public property.
"It is very disturbing that, despite the increase in police
activity in the past six months of last year, these statistics show
that it is not enough in itself. It is essential that the Government
and Parliament implement amendments in the Serious Organised Crime
Bill aimed at animal extremists, and introduce a new clause protecting
regulated companies," said Dr Philip Wright, ABPI Director
of Science and Technology.
"The fact that more and more suppliers are being forced to
drop their business with companies involved in animals research
is especially ominous. If this trend continues, it is by no means
fanciful to suggest that pharmaceutical companies will seriously
consider whether it is still appropriate to carry out this essential
research work in the UK.
"That would be a tragedy for the men, women and children of
Britain as well as its economy - and, ironically, for the animals
themselves, because the UK has the world's most stringent regulations
on the animal welfare."
The figures released by the ABPI show that the total number of threatening
and abusive phone calls and other communications amounted to 108
during 2004, compared with 38 in 2003 and 23 the previous year.
There were 177 instances of damage to company, personal and private
property during the year, compared with 146 the previous year and
60 the year before.
While the overall picture is thus bleak, the number of visits to
the homes of both directors of companies and their employees showed
a fall. Visits to directors' homes were down to 90 for the year,
compared with 113 in 2003. But there were only 11 instances in the
last quarter of the year - half or less than in any of the previous
quarters. Home visits to employees were also down from 146 in 2003
to 89 last year.
"New legislation and injunctions have had a marked effect in
reducing the number of these 'home visits' - which often take place
in the middle of the night, accompanied by fireworks or loud-hailers
- but the number is still unacceptably high," said Dr Wright.
"The people being targeted are working for tightly regulated
companies that produce life-saving medicines, and they are entitled
to carry out this essential work free from fear and intimidation."
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