Tuesday 13 November 2001

The Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Bill published today contains provisions which would suspend basic human rights without sufficient justification. This shows that without a proper Bill of Rights and a written constitution the British people will always be at the mercy of arbitrary laws imposed by governments with a vice-like grip on Parliament.

Commenting on the proposals, Chris Lawrence-Pietroni, Deputy Director of Charter88, said:

"The Government has made no attempt to justify its declaration of a state of public emergency which is necessary to suspend article 5(1) of the European Convention on Human Rights."

"There may be circumstances where such actions are necessary. However, without a constitutional definition of 'public emergency' which can be subject to judicial review, we are all at risk from governments abusing the prerogative powers of the Crown and their domination of Parliament."

"The Bill will introduce arbitrary discrimination between British citizens and foreigners as to who may be detained indefinitely without trial."

"Provisions already exist under the Terrorism Act to try people, suspected of having committed terrorist offences abroad, in the UK. If they are suspect, the police and security agencies should go and get the evidence to put to a court of law. The Government has not demonstrated that these provisions are inadequate."