UK Home Office fails to punish Imperial College for unacceptable animal welfare standards
Last week, we presented our case against the Home Office for failing to impose adequate penalties on Imperial College London researchers who did not look after their animals properly. Judgment is awaited.
Our investigation found poor treatment of animals at Imperial College, which left animals unattended overnight after operations such as double kidney transplants and induced heart attacks. Numerous other animals suffered even more than was permitted under licences.
The Home Office licenses animal experiments in the UK. So we are holding Home Secretary Theresa May to account for not taking proper action against the College’s researchers.
In May this year, the High Court gave us permission to launch a case against the Home Office, following our ground-breaking undercover investigation of animal experiments at Imperial College in 2012. Although the Home Office looked into the case and found a ‘generally poor culture of care’ at the college, its remedial action was weak.
We also argued that the Home Office report into our investigation was defective. Following pressure from the judge, the department did at least agree to correct a misleading statement in its report.
Michelle Thew, CEO of Cruelty Free International, said:
‘We are pleased to have this opportunity to confront the Home Office over the failure of the Department and its inspectors to address properly the serious and systemic problems uncovered during our investigation into Imperial College. Cruelty Free International believes that the inadequate care standards and subsequent lenient sanctions imposed on the University must be addressed’.
