EVERYONE should have the right to be free from harassment and intimidation when they are at home.

And, although there is evidence that they are not always enforced, laws already exist to protect people from being denied their peace at home.

So why does the Government feel it is necessary to strengthen laws specifically relating to animal rights protests?

There has to be a place in a democracy for legitimate protest. But when that protest goes too far and enters the realms of intimidation, it has to be stopped with the full force of the law.

Animal rights protestors who go too far, who bring fear into homes, have to be prevented from doing so. But when Home Office minister Caroline Flint says that the crackdown is aimed at "a small number of criminal extremists", it becomes difficult to see why existing legislation dealing with criminal damage, violence and even terrorism is not sufficient.

We fully acknowledge that animal rights is an exceptionally emotive issue and that a small minority of activists are dangerous.

But if anti-harassment laws are to be made more effective, they should be toughened up in the interests of every citizen, not just those involved in animal research.