Researchers who work with animals in the UK are feeling safer from harassment by radical animal rights activists after tough legislation was brought in by the government, observes Nature Neuroscience. In 2004, the UK police formed a National Extremism Coordination Tactical Unit. After two years of investigation in the UK, Belgium and the Netherlands, 30 people have been brought to trial. Anti-social behaviour orders have also been used to stifle agitation. “The difference between intimidation and legitimate protest can be difficult to define, but so far the UK authorities have done a good job of making this distinction,” says the journal. Although intimidation continues (some scientists refused to speak on the record for the article, for instance), the situation is slowly improving. Just as the UK led the world in animal extremism, “it seems only fitting that it should lead the way in effectively dealing with such extremism as well,” says the journal. ~ Nature Neuroscience, Dec