What are the possible implications of the animal testing protest ban for online activity?
In a series of shocking decisions, Parliament has moved to reclassify ‘life science infrastructure’ as ‘key national infrastructure’, which would effectively ban protesting outside labs conducting animal testing. The proposal would amend section 7 of the Public Order Act (‘POA’) 2023, putting animal testing sites in the same category as airports, power stations, and major roads.
Photo, from We Animals, shows Mark Powell, the husband of animal rights activist Regan Russell who was killed by a transport truck, protesting on behalf of animals.
As Animal Concern has previously stated, most of the provisions contained within the POA 2023 and the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 do not apply to Scotland and, as such, the ban is unlikely to affect in person protests at animal testing sites across the country.
However, concerns have been raised about how the ban might affect online and other campaigning activities, excluding protests, for those living outside of England and Wales.
Online Activity under the current legislation
Under the POA 2023, courts in England and Wales can impose restrictions on the internet usage, including social media, of an individual with at least 2 previous protest-related convictions received within the last 5 years, by way of imposing a Serious Disruption Prevention Order (SDPO) on the person.
These measures seriously increased the policing of protests and allow for stringent restrictions to be put on protestors.
Possible implications of the ban
If the ban on protesting outside animal testing facilities is passed, it could mean that those who are convicted of a protest related offence in England and Wales on multiple occasions could have their internet and social media usage restricted by an SDPO. Additionally, in certain circumstances, police may even be able to arrest someone for planning or intending to attend a protest at a site in England and Wales, even if they are based outside of the region. It is also worth noting that those who travel to England and Wales to protest at an animal testing facility would risk getting arrested, if the ban is passed.
Actions such as boycotting a Scottish company that supplies MBR Acres would not come under the Act and would not be prosecutable.
While it does not seem that the ban will have an impact on Scotland, it still poses a serious threat to the civil liberties of campaigners across the UK.