Part 5Miscellaneous
Protection of activities of certain organisations
I1145Interference with contractual relationships so as to harm animal research organisation
1
A person (A) commits an offence if, with the intention of harming an animal research organisation, he—
a
does a relevant act, or
b
threatens that he or somebody else will do a relevant act,
in circumstances in which that act or threat is intended or likely to cause a second person (B) to take any of the steps in subsection (2).
2
The steps are—
a
not to perform any contractual obligation owed by B to a third person (C) (whether or not such non-performance amounts to a breach of contract);
b
to terminate any contract B has with C;
c
not to enter into a contract with C.
3
For the purposes of this section, a “relevant act” is—
a
an act amounting to a criminal offence, or
b
a tortious act causing B to suffer loss or damage of any description;
but paragraph (b) does not include an act which is actionable on the ground only that it induces another person to break a contract with B.
4
For the purposes of this section, “contract” includes any other arrangement (and “contractual” is to be read accordingly).
5
For the purposes of this section, to “harm” an animal research organisation means—
a
to cause the organisation to suffer loss or damage of any description, or
b
to prevent or hinder the carrying out by the organisation of any of its activities.
6
This section does not apply to any act done wholly or mainly in contemplation or furtherance of a trade dispute.
7
In subsection (6) “trade dispute” has the same meaning as in Part 4 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 (c. 52), except that section 218 of that Act shall be read as if—
a
it made provision corresponding to section 244(4) of that Act, and
b
in subsection (5), the definition of “worker” included any person falling within paragraph (b) of the definition of “worker” in section 244(5).