Content Page
Lamplight Bible Plan Nice Treaty Update Bush to Host Islamic Prayer Meeting
Anti-Hate Clause Hinders Gospel Afghanistan New Appointments
Freedoms Under Threat in New Terror laws Capital Hill Prayer Alert

FREEDOMS UNDER THREAT IN NEW TERROR LAWS

The terror hijackings in America have given European politicians an opportunity to introduce new laws to increase surveillance and curtail freedom. Home Secretary David Blunkett has met other EU leaders to discuss measures proposed by the European Commission, which include:

• Abolition of extradition procedures between EU states, and

• Introduction of a pan-European arrest warrant.

Whenever a tragedy occurs, the Government - or the EU Commission - always seem to have a new restrictive measure ready and waiting to implement. The same thing happened after Dunblane. Notwithstanding that the Dunblane massacre happened as a result of police incompetence or worse, the Home Office leapt at the opportunity to ban handguns.

Under the Blunkett plans, the Government have also been given a boost in plans to increase the length of time police may detain suspects without charge, to allow the police to arrest anyone they suspect of having knowledge about alleged terrorists solely in order to interrogate them, to install more CCTV and to introduce compulsory identity cards. Tony Blair is trying to secure the prior agreement of the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats for the measures, in order to speed their passage through Parliament.

Civil liberties groups have expressed concerns. John Wadham of ‘Liberty’ said "Preventing future terrorist attacks is a real and complex challenge. There is a danger that in the current climate in which people feel genuinely concerned about their safety, the government could implement a series of measures which will have no real effect in combatting terrorism, but which will seriously undermine freedom here in the UK."