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MPs vote to restrict protests outside animal testing labs and research centres
The UK Parliament passed changes criminalizing disruptive protests at animal-testing sites, extending police powers with penalties up to one year in jail to protect life-sciences infrastructure.
- On January 14 the House of Commons approved regulations updating the Public Order Act to ban disruptive protests outside animal testing laboratories and life‑sciences infrastructure.
- A statutory instrument drafted November 27 last year set out amending the Public Order Act 2023 to include life‑sciences infrastructure covering pharmaceutical research and activities under the Animals Act 1986.
- The change gives police stronger powers and creates penalties of up to a year in jail, affecting Alderley Park, Cheshire, and MBR Acres beagle-breeding facility near Huntingdon, targeted by Camp Beagle since June 2021.
- Twenty-Six Labour MPs rebelled by voting against the plan, including Irene Campbell, Brian Leishman, Clive Lewis, and Neil Duncan-Jordan, while campaign groups warned the change would erode the right to protest and thousands wrote to MPs.
- Just weeks ago ministers published a strategy to phase out animal testing, while a Home Office spokesperson said the legislation helps police manage unsafe protest activity and the Home Office has been asked to respond.
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Knutsford GuardianReposted by 
Northwich Guardian
Northwich GuardianPeaceful protesters at animal testing lab could be jailed thanks to 'sneaky' new law
PEACEFUL protesters at an animal testing laboratory near Alderley Edge could be jailed now a ‘sneaky’ new government proposal has been voted…
·Wilmslow, United Kingdom
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources11
Leaning Left4Leaning Right1Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Center
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources are Center
50% Center
L 40%
C 50%
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