GlaxoSmithKline’s general counsel Rupert Bondy has been targeted by animal rights activists along with a number of the company’s executives in the UK, the pharmaceutical giant’s chief executive Jean-Pierre Garnier revealed last month.

Mr Garnier said the general counsel had been forced into hiding to protect his family after receiving threats.


The chief executive was targeted himself last week when a 30-strong protest was staged outside his home in Philadelphia, after he had referred to protesters as ‘despicable cowards’.


Mr Garnier had also spoken out about the damage to the British economy being caused by animal rights activists, claiming that he knew of international companies that had chosen not to invest in Britain because of security concerns. He said that GlaxoSmithKline was currently spending tens of millions of pounds on protecting staff and premises.


A GlaxoSmithKline spokeswoman said the company was looking forward to better enforcement of the law following the announcement of new government plans to crack down on animal rights extremists. She added: ‘Harassment in people’s homes is outrageous when they are going about the legal business of trying to find new medicines for people.’


The government proposed a series of measures last month specifically aimed at combating animal rights protesters who intimidate or harass businesses. The changes will give police new powers to arrest activists who protest outside a person’s home, and will enable police to ban protesters from the vicinity of the victim’s home for up to three months.


The proposals will also address difficulties in the current harassment laws that make the legislation hard to apply to those being targeted because they are employees of a particular company.


Mr Bondy did not wish to comment on the threats.