A report published yesterday by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) states that there were no personal assaults by animal extremists in 2006 and large falls in the number of abusive messages and instances of damage to property.
Iain Simpson, a spokesperson for the pro-animal testing group Pro-Test, told DrugResearcher.com: "It is hugely important that the number of these attacks has dropped so that more scientists will be able to do life-saving research without having to look over their shoulders."
"These new figures are extremely encouraging and follow a trend we expect to continue."
There has been a consistent fall in the number of 'home visits' where protestors would gather outside a family home and cause a civil disturbance, from the peak of 259 in 2003 down to 20 in 2006. In 2006 there were 50 cases of property damage compared with 86 instances the year before.
Dr Philip Wright, ABPI science and technology director, said: "We are especially pleased to see a sharp fall in attacks on people's homes, this behaviour is particularly intimidating and threatening. It affects whole families, including young children, as well as the wider community."
While instances of extremist behavior have been dropping, the numbers protesting peacefully have remained constant; suggesting that new laws brought in to tackle extremism have not harmed the rights of freedom of speech, according to the ABPI.
Aisling Burnand, CEO of the BioIndustry Association (BIA), commented:"It is clearly encouraging that extremist activity is continuing to fall since the introduction of new legislation. We look forward to the day when organisations can resume normal business trading. Pressure must be maintained to eradicate the illegal activities of a minority."
Most encouragingly for UK biomedical scientific research, the number of companies and organisations succumbing to pressure not to work with those involved with animal research has dropped sharply from 103 in 2005 to only 39 in 2006.
However, it was not all good news as reports have been made of attacks in the first few weeks of 2007, Dr Wright said: "We welcome the continued effort by police to crack down on illegal activities."
"New legislation has helped, as has some significant arrests and sentences of leading extremists. These statistics show that extremist behaviour has been curbed but not defeated and we have already had reports of further attacks in the first weeks of 2007 -government efforts must be maintained."