Not Quite Terrorism: Animal Rights Extremism in the United Kingdom

Political violence undertaken in the name of animal rights has been ongoing for some 35 years in the United Kingdom and yet such activity is commonly termed extremism not terrorism. Existing counter-terrorism measures have not been utilized by the state against individuals and groups engaged in such violence. This article explores the criminal justice response to the various types of political violence, which have been claimed by groups like the Animal Liberation Front, the Animal Rights Militia, the Justice Department and the Provisional ALF. Moreover, the article argues that terrorist laws do not have to be used to effectively tackle single-issue terrorism such as animal rights extremism where activists employ tactics more commonly associated with a terrorist campaign.