Harassment & Protest
Over the past 7 years, we have seen the development of extremely strong and committed protesting by direct action activists. In many cases this protesting amounts to bullying, intimidation and clearly constitutes harassment.

On 20 April 2003, the Observer reported that already 2000 company directors had been forced to remove their private home addresses from statutory records because of the direct action tactics of animal rights activists.

Clearly freedom of speech and of association are fundamental principles which must be cherished in a liberal democracy. However a great deal of unlawful and unacceptable behaviour is being carried out in the name of Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Association.

Since the late 1990's this firm has been working with industry, the police and the government to try and achieve the right balance between these competing interests. This firm has obtained ground breaking injunctions on behalf of Huntingdon Life Sciences Ltd. its suppliers, pharmaceutical companies and GM crop firms that have been victims of robust direct action tactics.

Lawson-Cruttenden & Co. have developed extensive links with all of the police forces in England and Wales to assist with the policing of injunctions. Members of the firm have also been involved with lecturing at police training colleges on this area of law.

Copies of some articles of interest in this area are set out in our press coverage section. We are the leading practice in this area of law. Examples of this can be found in the cases of Huntingdon Life Sciences v Curtin, The Times 11.12.97 (first reported High Court decision under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997) and Daiichi v Avery (representative proceedings on behalf of customers of Huntingdon Life Sciences).

If you have been the victim of animal rights extremism - please click here.