Veganism Removed From NHS Counter-Terrorism Training Materials

References to veganism have been removed from counter-terrorism training materials used for NHS staff after a challenge by The Vegan Society’s legal expert, Dr. Jeanette Rowley. The NHS training provider, Skills for Health, confirmed the removal of references to veganism in response to a Freedom of Information request submitted by Dr. Rowley. This change was seen as a critical step in preventing ethical veganism, a protected belief, from being misrepresented or mischaracterized by public institutions.

While the NHS materials no longer include references to veganism, counter-terrorism police training materials have named specific vegan groups alongside far-right extremist groups. In 2020, a guide for police officers, teachers, and government organizations listed PETA, Animal Aid, and Sea Shepherd, along with environmental groups like Extinction Rebellion and Greenpeace. Despite this inclusion, a spokesperson for Counter-Terrorism Policing clarified that membership in these groups does not imply criminality and that many listed organizations are not of counter-terrorism interest.