Britain's Oxford University has been granted an injunction that prevents animal rights activists from protesting near a new animal testing center that had become the center of a campaign of harassment, the university said on Wednesday (November 10).

A spokeswoman for the university told The Scientist that the High Court had granted an extension of an interim order granted in September that imposed a 50-yard "no harassment" zone around the laboratory. It had also sought an injunction against 10 named defendants.

The new permanent order excludes the named people or groups from coming within 50 yards of the laboratory site, except during once-weekly demonstrations. It also excludes them from knowingly picketing, demonstrating, or loitering within 50 yards of the premises of contractors involved in the construction or within 100 yards of the houses of members of the university, staff, contractors, the shareholders of the contractors, or their families.

The injunction also prevents the named people from publishing identifying material of those protected people, the spokeswoman added.

Construction of the £18 million (USD $33.3 million) laboratory had been halted in July after contractors complained they had been harassed and intimidated by animal rights activists.

Oxford pointed out in a statement that the injunction does not prevent demonstrations or what it calls "legitimate protest." "The order includes provisions for protests to continue to be held once a week in Oxford. Campaigners will, of course, retain the right to apply to Thames Valley Police to hold additional protests or demonstrations for larger numbers."

The Guardianreported that the judge, Justice Grigson, said that the injunction did not prevent anyone from expressing his or her views. "What it does restrict is to whom and where he expresses those views. A similar consideration applies in respect of his right to peaceful assembly and freedom of association. A right to freedom of peaceful assembly does not entitle a citizen, by means of a mass protest, to stop the lawful activities of others," Grigson said.

News of the High Court's decision was welcomed by scientists in the United Kingdom. Colin Blakemore, chief executive of the Medical Research Council (MRC), said that while the MRC respects the right of individuals to protest, "when protest develops into intimidation and violence, it is entirely unacceptable."

Roger Morris, of King's College London, called the decision a victory for people with diseases that might benefit from research conducted at the lab. "For too long research that will make a real impact upon our treatment of such diseases has been disrupted by a few urban terrorists," he said. "It is now clear that the government and the courts are standing up for human rights as well as animal rights."

Evan Harris, Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Oxford West and Abingdon, where the university's animal research center is sited, said the ruling showed that existing laws and current government policy are inadequate. "We need new legislation and for the Government to underwrite the increased insurance cists of firms and individuals working in this area," he said.