Detainees and control orders
23-09-2010
Liberty Report: From 'War' to Law
From 'War' to Law, draws together all of Liberty’s concerns over excessive and unjustified counter-terror measures introduced since the advent of the “War on Terror”, with control orders at the top of the list of internationally embarrassing assaults on fundamental human rights. Read the report here.
The response which was submitted to the Home Office on 11 August and released to the public shortly afterwards urged the Home Secretary to:
- Scrap the unfair and unsafe control order house arrest regime which has not enhanced national security but cost the taxpayer £13 million over three years.
- Revise the Terrorist Asset Freezing Regime so that it no longer targets those who have never been arrested, charged or convicted in relation to a terrorism offence.
- Overhaul Section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 so that exceptional stop and search powers without reasonable suspicion may be justified only in very limited circumstances. Thoroughly review RIPA surveillance powers and look at restricting their use to law enforcement agencies.
- Respect the rule against torture in deportation policy and urge countries in receipt of British aid, trade and security cooperation to refrain from torture and inhuman and degrading treatment.
- Define restrictions on free speech and association (aimed at terrorist organisations) more tightly.
- Reduce the pre-charge detention period for terror suspects.