ABSTRACT

SOCPA 2005 creates criminal offences relating to actions taken against animal research establishments. Under section 145 it is an offence to do or threaten to do an act amounting to a criminal offence, or a tortious act causing the organisation loss or damage with the intention of harming an animal research organisation in circumstances where it is intended or likely to cause the organisation to withdraw from a contract, decide not to enter a contract or fail to perform a contractual duty. A further criminal offence is created under section 146. This relates to person A threatening another person, ‘B’, that he will commit a crime to do a tortious act causing loss or damage to B because of B’s connection with an animal research organisation. On summary conviction a person is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum (currently £5,000), or to both. On conviction on indictment a person is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or to an unlimited fine, or to both.