To understand where we are now, we need to understand what are the key causes for animal rights extremism. Clearly biomedical research, fur, intensive farming, meat, greyhound and horse racing, hunting and in fact anything to do with animals can result in a protest campaign.
Other key protest issues currently are protests against the Government’s austerity measures, rising unemployment, fuel prices, food prices and environmental issues, particularly nuclear energy.
There are numerous examples of animal rights groups across Europe. Many of them conduct their protest campaigns lawfully and peacefully, however there are clearly radical groups amongst them. There are those that know no boundaries as to where they will go and what they will do to achieve their ends. Of particular note is the use of the criminal calling cards for animal rights extremism, the Animal Liberation Front (ALF), the Animal Rights Militia (ARM) and the largest anti-vivisection campaign group SHAC (Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty).
The extremists have a clear targeting strategy with primary, secondary and tertiary targets. In respect to the use of animals in bio-medical research, they will clearly target customers and suppliers, particularly those believed to be funding this research, i.e.: banks, investors and shareholders.
They continue to use the internet to promote, orchestrate and co-ordinate their campaigns against different companies and organisations. Across Europe the most prominent are SHAC, the Coalition Against Vivisection (CAV) based in France and Belgium, and the Anti Dierproeven Coalitie (ADC) based in Belgium and The Netherlands.
Recently there has been a renewed effort aimed at stopping the transportation of animals involved in research by the targeting of airlines believed to be carrying animals.
The last two to three years have seen what can only be described as serious, organised criminality, where companies have not only been demonstrated against, but have suffered serious attacks involving the use of incendiary devices, other arson attacks and the personalisation of targeting against senior management. In total in 2009-2010 there have been 27 attacks in 7 Member States, 11 of which involved arson or incendiary devices being used.
So, where are we now? Small scale demonstrations continue against all the causes mentioned above. Most of them remain peaceful, however they do intimidate, harass and can disrupt business activity, as well as cause concern, and in some cases fear, amongst staff. The internet continues to be used and there have recently been Denial of Service (DoS) and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. Other criminal activity continues and there may well be further infiltration and subsequent exposés of activity within research laboratories. In addition, leading activists in the UK are now being released from lengthy prison sentences, and whilst there is a relatively low level of animal rights activity this may now change.
It would seem, therefore, prudent to mitigate this threat. Companies and organisations need to be informed in respect of what they are doing that may make them a target for extremism, and what the activists are doing. This understanding of the threat allows the risk assessments to be considered and any contingency plans to be tested. It is important that a communication plan is put in place that will inform all staff that they are, or may be, at risk from being targeted, reassure them that the risks are being managed, that you have a communication and media plan to deal with any reputational damage that could occur if you are targeted and that basic, protective measures against trespassers, website penetration, or ability to deal with threatening mail, emails, telephone calls and ways of reducing your company’s and your staff’s vulnerability on the internet are put in place. If you are undertaking research, I would suggest an effective way of mitigating the threat of infiltration and exposé is to ensure the welfare of your research animals is first rate and that you publish on your website and in other corporate literature exactly what you are doing. Having a robust infiltration prevention plan including extensive pre-employment screening and interviewing and selection skills is also essential. This should ensure there can be no shocks or surprises.
Finally, you should always liaise with your local police.
Steve Pearl, non-Executive Director, Agenda Security Services
