Legitimate protest... or terrorism?

It was a message that hit home with directors of security, risk and security managers, facilities managers, insurers, systems designers and community safety executives, as 150 professionals poured through the doors of Bushey's Metropolitan Police Sports and Social Club just prior to Christmas with one aim in mind. To learn how they might combat the terrorist threat.

Consec 2002 was designed to debate the terrorist issue, in turn reviewing the rights of individuals and their immediate impact on the security practices employed to protect people, property and assets. Indeed, delegates at the Verint-Loronix Video Solutions and Security Management Today-sponsored event were in for a rare treat as organiser Laurie Doust of The Buckingham Consultancy had managed to cajole some of the top practitioners in the industry to speak – including respected academic Dr Mike Rowe and in-house professional Brian Cass.

Rowe – a lecturer in policing at The Scarman Centre – looked at the key characteristics of contemporary protest movements, and the challenges they pose to both the police and the private sector. He stressed that the principles of policing – the prevention of crime, the protection of life and property and the preservation of public tranquility – espoused by early Metropolitan Police commander Richard Rowan still hold true today.

That said, the police service has to deal with a new threat from environmental protestors, Animal Rights activists (more of which anon) and Direct Action Groups (such as Right To Roam and Reclaiming The Streets).

"The interests of these people have been seen to represent the broad church of public interest," suggested Dr Rowe. "We are probably facing a revival of the popular protest."

Rowe then pointed to the moral ambiguities surrounding policing in the UK, with many feeling that the Boys in Blue intervene on behalf of private concerns to protect them as opposed to defending the public good.

"The $64,000 question," added Dr Rowe, "is whether or not the newly-extended police family, embracing private security companies and private investigators and the like, will enjoy public consent or be viewed as a private army."

The changing face of protest
As the managing director of Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS) plc in Cambridgeshire, Brian Cass is well used to dealing with the terrorist threat, and was thus asked to speak – with much authority – about 'The Changing Face of Protest' in relation to his own organisation.

HLS operations, of course, focus their attention on pharmaceutical testing. Working out of three bases (there's another laboratory at Eye in the UK, and the main Stateside facility at Princeton), the company's Mission Statement is simple: to help its customers develop safe and effective new products. Products which are safe, whether exposed to humans, animals or the environment, and which satisfy the Regulatory Authorities responsible for approving their use.

Backed by 50 years' experience in the field, HLS boasts current annual sales of $115 million, is one of the largest non-clinical commercial research organisations worldwide and employs no less than 1,300 people. Its client base encompasses 48 of the world's Top 50 pharmaceutical companies, not to mention the entire Top 20 agrochemical and industrial chemical concerns.

In setting the scene for his presentation, Cass stressed that society craves – and demands – "absolute safety" when it comes to medicines. Governments are accountable for their 'subjects', and implement stringent regulations for drug companies which inevitably require animal testing to be carried out. Further regulations then control how that work is done. The various regulations include the Medicines Act of 1968 and the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 – the strictest and most rigidly enforced piece of legislation under which HLS and other companies like it must operate.

In a position such as our own, the importance of gaining third party endorsement and support is crucial. You must also work with the media to ensure that your side of the story is made known to the public at large. Communicate, communicate... and communic

Brian Cass, managing director, Huntingdon Life Sciences

Given the nature of its business, it comes as no surprise to learn that HLS has had to face risks posed not just to the company itself, but also to its employees, shareholders, customers and suppliers ('Huntingdon Life Sciences stands fast against protestors', News, SMT, May 2000, p7).

In truth, any 'stakeholder' in the vivisection concern has been prey to Animal Rights activists, whose 'methods of persuasion' aimed at stopping all animal testing have included everything from boycotting consumer goods to abusive telephone calls, personal assaults on HLS managers – Brian Cass was himself attacked in his own driveway by baseball bat-wielding protestors – malicious hate mail, various IT-related attacks (such as spam e-mail overloads) and even car bombs.

"The animal welfare philosophy is, quite rightly, to treat animals with dignity and respect," opined Cass. "In our research, we are honour-bound to apply the 'three r's'. In other words, we seek to reduce the amount of animal testing we have to do, refine that testing at all times and then look for alternative methods wherever possible. We must be seen to be open with the public at large about why and how animal experimentation is carried out."

The Animal Rights protestors' view of the world is that everyone who uses animals as a resource or for recreation is an animal abuser. Animal abusers are 'scum'. Animal experimentation must be stopped, as the experiments don't work and there are alternatives. 'Trying to persuade scientists to understand these points will take too long, therefore we'll close down the organisations involved' is the protestors' position.

"It's an area of simple lies and far more complex truths. The Animal Rights position is emotional, not rational," suggested Brian Cass. "Scientists must rely on facts and objectivity."

He added: "According to BRET's latest figures, the facts of the matter are that 2.5 million animals are used in testing procedures in the UK each year. To put that into perspective, we eat 700 million animals on an annual basis. 87% of research animals are rodents, and we 'exterminate' eight million as pests! Researchers use 7,500 dogs/cats each year, in comparison with around 1,000 animals discarded every day as unwanted pets."

Campaign of direct action
Cass described how HLS effectively found itself besieged post-November 1999, a time when the Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC) movement announced a three-year campaign aimed at closing down the company's laboratories. A goal it continues to pursue to this day. "SHAC has become something of a 'flag of convenience' for the UK Animal Rights movement," added Cass, before relating how SHAC's campaign of direct action has progressed from initial local site demonstrations through to extreme actions.

As well as the attack on Cass himself, there was an assault perpetrated on HLS marketing director Andrew Gay in late 2000, whereby three masked men brandishing a caustic chemical spray broke into his home.

Indeed, HLS has been forced to fight on many fronts simultaneously as SHAC is behind actions such as information leaks to the national press. These leaks have resulted in several stories, including The Sunday Telegraph's 23 January 2000 front page item concerning the Labour Party Pension Fund's shareholding in HLS through a nominee company (in this case Philips and Drew).

The subsequent detrimental effect on HLS' share price (10% of them were 'dumped' within a week of the story) was then compounded by protestor pressures brought to bear on other shareholders, banks and insurance concerns. 'Naming and shaming' campaigns have been waged, cash machines damaged, 'black' faxes sent and directors have been subjected to 'home visits' by Animal Rights supporters. Animal breeders have also been targeted with, for example, Shamrock Farms having to close back in March 2000 following an arson attack.

Not surprisingly, impact on the local community has been wide-ranging. "The total cost of policing Animal Rights may now be greater than £6 million per annum," said Cass. The cost of policing in Cambridge currently stands at £2.5 million.

"With police diverted to support our organisation, this has inevitably led to disruption and unrest in the city centre and throughout the neighbourhoods. Longer term, it may well be the case that investment in the UK's research concerns diminishes and moves abroad, with resultant job losses. I wonder what many chief executives may have been told, maybe by their security advisers?"

Responding to the threat
HLS has had to formulate a strategy for its very survival. This has required the formulation of an enhanced security plan to protect staff and premises alike, as well as a tactical response to engage the Animal Rights movement's successful mobilisation of publicity.

The $64,000 question is whether or not the newly-extended police family, embracing private security companies and private investigators and the like, will enjoy public consent or be viewed as a private army

Dr Mike Rowe, Lecturer in Policing, the Scarman centre, Leicester

"In a position such as our own," added Cass, "the importance of gaining third party endorsement and support is crucial. You must also work with the media to ensure that your side of the story is made known to the public at large. Communicate, communicate... and communicate again. To customers, shareholders, employees and the local community around you."

HLS now makes a point of always responding to incidents and allegations. This policy of engagement extends to initiatives including shareholder letters and updates and liaison with financial institutions. "We've used media opportunities to promote clear, consistent messages and counter the misinformation and lies put out by Animal Rights activists," said Cass.

"Above all, our policy has been one of being seen to stand up and be counted, because we will not give in to terrorism."

In pure security terms, HLS' response at Huntingdon has been comprehensively planned and implemented. A detailed security review first covered physical systems. Perimeter fencing was extended, strengthened and alarmed, and integrated CCTV surveillance systems installed to cover the entire perimeter. Ditches were constructed immediately behind the fencing, and 24-hour guarding teams employed at all sites (using dogs whenever required). Keypad access control locks have now been fitted to all buildings, while any vehicles entering the site are subjected to rigorous searches.

Inside the premises, a thorough policy review has led to revised and updated procedures, including the vetting of all staff, temporary workers and contractors. Contractors must comply with strict access control policies. Badges are mandatory, and staff are encouraged to challenge individuals not in possession of the necessary ID.

A clear site/clear desk lockdown policy is enforced, while staff names have been removed from voicemail.

IT and data security is critical to most blue chip businesses, and HLS is no exception. As such, authority for access to computer systems is now required at IT security director level, and password protection is universally applied. Networks and systems are regularly swept, with PCs and terminals virus protected and security screensavers deployed at all times.

Brian Cass confirmed that HLS' web site firewall is regularly attacked, highlighting the need for strong IT system defences.

Meantime, HLS' directors have also been working behind the scenes with groups such as industry associations and Trade Unions, at the same time lobbying Government with its proposals for legal changes. Indeed, Cass argued that HLS' actions have, at least in part, paved the way for a number of Westminster-born initiatives. For example, the Criminal Justice and Police Act (which passed into law in 2001) introduced protection for company directors, plus control over protests held outside employees' homes. Crucially, the Act also makes the sending of hate mail an imprisonable offence.

A National Crime Squad has been set up, and many Animal Rights activists have been arrested for fraud as a result. In addition, local police in Cambridge now have additional funding to the tune of £1 million to help with HLS-related law and order. Subsequent actions have included the arrest and conviction of David Blenkinsopp, who was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for the attack on Cass.

What more must be done?
"We need specific legislation to control 'protest' activities, measures to protect all company directors' and shareholders' addresses and an extension on the law of harassment such that it applies to a grouping of individuals," stressed Brian Cass.

Cass is keen to see the UK's police service set performance targets for their dealings with the Animal Rights movement.