The Financial Times (UK) had a brief item in July reporting on Deloitte & Touche speaking out about the harassment it faced as Huntingdon Life Sciences’ auditor.
The Financial Times reported that Deloitte & Touche senior partner John Connolly cited both safety concerns for its staff as well as issues of increased security costs for the company’s decision to end its relationship with Huntingdon Life Sciences. Deloitte & Touche had been HLS’ auditor.
The Financial Times quoted Connolly as saying,
We did not like to walk away from any client in circumstances of intimidation. I cannot recall us ever doing it. But we had to protect our people.
In response to a question about whether the UK government could do more to stop extremists such as Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty from carrying out such campaigns of harassment, Connolly said, “Yes, . . . You might think more could be done to stop the organizations operating.”
Source:
Former Huntingdon Auditor Says Government Should Do More to Protection Businesses. Andrew Parker, Financial Times (UK), July 10, 2003.