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Tougher anti-terror
laws proposed
The home secretary has outlined plans for more far-reaching measures
to tackle terrorism.
The proposals include special anti-terror courts without juries and
the use of phone-tap evidence in trials.
David Blunkett told ITV1's Jonathan Dimbleby programme that any new
legislation would wait until after the next general election.
But human rights group Liberty accused the government of resorting
to "draconian law and order measures".
The home secretary said new civil orders were being considered which
could be imposed against people suspected of "acts preparatory to
terrorism" even if they had not committed an offence.
He said the breach of such orders would be a criminal offence which
could result in imprisonment.
"We'd be able to use civil law, like anti-social behaviour orders,
to say, 'If you step outside what we've precluded you from doing, if
you, for instance, use this particular banking network... then we
can move you from the civil into the criminal law', and then we can
use the normal criminal justice process, " he said.
Mr Blunkett said that the introduction of special terrorism trials
with judges sitting alone without a jury was being considered.
He said he was also considering allowing wire tap evidence in
criminal trials - a move previously opposed by the security services
who feared being forced to disclose secret operations.
Balancing act
The head of the planned new Serious and Organised Crime Agency,
former MI5 chief Sir Stephen Lander, said that he was an
"enthusiast" for using wire-tap evidence in court.
But he added: "When one is dealing with very serious crimes, there
is a balance to be struck between the intrusion on the privacy of
the majority... and the need to be able to contain the criminals.
The issue for any law enforcement agency is to act proportionately
in the use of the laws that are available."
Mr Blunkett said: "What we're trying to do is to square an
impossible circle which is to protect ourselves against new forms of
threat and adapt our legal system to face it without eroding the
basic human rights that people expect in a free and civilised
society."
Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Mark Oaten said: "Sensible
measures and precautions will get Liberal Democrat backing, but a
further eroding of the principles of justice must be avoided."
'Draconian'
Liberty director Shami Chakrabarti said the government was playing
on people's legitimate fears of terrorism and crime to bring in more
draconian law and order measures.
Martin Howe QC, of the Politeia think tank, said: "The harm in not
dealing with the threat of terrorism is so great that you simply
cannot afford to say that it is better that a 100 guilty terrorists
are let out on the street, in order to save one innocent person from
being locked up."
The government and security services have long warned that an attack
on the UK is "inevitable".
The home secretary told the programme that any decision on
legislation would wait until after the general election.
"It's not my intention to try and push a bill through this side of
the general election whenever the prime minister calls it," he said.
It would also wait until a law lords ruling, expected in the New
Year, on current anti-terror legislation under which suspects are
being held without trial in Belmarsh prison in London.
'All talk'
Shadow home secretary David Davis said Mr Blunkett was "all talk"
for failing to include proposals in Tuesday's Queen's Speech.
"Yet again we have tough-sounding headline-grabbing statements from
David Blunkett, without the substance to back it up," Mr Davis said.
New bills that are expected to be announced in the speech will drive
further crackdowns on anti-social behaviour and establish the
Serious and Organised Crime Agency.
The agency, which has been called the "British FBI", will tackle
people trafficking, drug smuggling and money laundering. Agency head
Sir Stephen Lander said these offences cost the UK £40bn a year.
BBC political correspondent Carole Walker said legislation will also
be announced to set up a system of identity cards. There will also
be more measures to crack down on binge drinking.
Source: BBC News
Date: 21 Nov 2004
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