Summary
THE current terrorist threat is unique in British history by dint of the fact that jihadist suicide bombers threaten to murder large numbers of innocent civilians indiscriminately. In previous emergencies, such as the IRA bombing campaign of the Seventies and Eighties, immediate security measures could depend on protecting vulnerable targets, but this is clearly impossible when every bus and tube train is under threat. As a result, it is understandable that the government wants to introduce new anti-terror laws that amount virtually to preventative detention of likely suspects, as a way of minimising the danger to the public.
Thus, the new terrorism bill contains powers for the police to detain suspects for up to 90 days without charge, instead of the present 14 days. The reasoning is that if the security forces receive limited early warning of a possible attack - say, through increased phone chatter - they can round up suspects early so as to abort the threat.See the full content of this document
Extract
Leader: A Solution to Blair's Dilemma?
Under present law, the police would then have to charge the detainees within two weeks, but might not have the detailed evidence for a prosecution. And even if they do charge the suspects, that will then preclude further i...
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