"Straw moves to control animal rights activists"

 The government is to seek new powers to prevent the "preposterous" and "terrible"
 activities of animal rights extremists who attack scientists working in animal
 testing, the Home Secretary, Jack Straw, said yesterday. 

 Mr Straw said on BBC Radio 4's Today programme:"We are looking at whether there
 are changes in legislation we can take which are being sought by the police to
 see whether we can strengthen action against these animal rights extremists." 

 Robin Webb, spokesman for the Animal Liberation Front, said the Government had
 reneged on promises concerning animal rights issues. "When they came into power
 they promised a whole raft of changes on animal rights issues but nothing has
 changed." 

 Mr Webb said the proposals to strengthen police powers were unnecessary.
 "I really don't see how any further legislation can help. There are already
 laws in place such as those relating to criminal damage and harassment. The
 sentencing powers are also in place, so this seems completely over the top."

 By Ian Burrell, Home Affairs Correspondent 
 31 August 2000
 The "Independent

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 `Perceptions' note

 Britain as a "western democracy" already has a full set of criminal / civil laws
 against damage / assault /  murder etc.
  
 So "new legislation" described above by Mr Straw would necessarily turn merely
 being a member of an animal rights organisation into a criminal offence.

 Since laws already exist forbidding "criminal" actions.

 In fact if such new legislation were implemented, actions of corrupt (or merely
 `over-zealous') police and judges - see www.perceptions.couk.com/laworjustice.html
 would soon mean it's a "terrorist crime" to support animal rights at all.


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