Liberty - Protecting civil liberties, promoting human rights

Troubling proposals in the bill include an ‘encouragement of terrorism’ offence which is dangerously broad and does not require the intent to incite others to criminal acts. Criminalizing individual membership or support of a non-violent political party.

Director of Liberty Shami Chakrabarti said:

“Muzzling free speech and running political groups underground will only paralyse the efforts of community leaders, the police, and the secret service to root out dangerous extremists. Responsible politicians must check party loyalty at the door, stop horse-trading our freedoms, and join those who defend free speech.”

Liberty Press Office on 0207 378 3656 or 07973 831 128

Notes to editors:

Liberty supports Amendment 81, tabled by Lord Thomas and Lord Goodhart, which will clarify police powers to stop and search under section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

Liberty’s concerns with the Terrorism Bill include:

- Proposals to create new offences of encouragement of terrorism and dissemination of terrorist publications are extremely broadly drafted. They do not require any intention to incite others to commit criminal acts. The Terrorism Act 2000 (TA) and existing common law means there is already very broad criminal law. Instead, difficulty in bringing prosecutions can be largely attributed to other factors such as the self-imposed ban on the admissibility of intercept evidence.

- Extension of the grounds for proscription under the Terrorism Act will criminalise membership or support of non-violent political parties. The implication of criminalising non-violent organisations on the basis of their opinions is incredibly dangerous for a democratic Government to consider.

- Government plans to allow three month detentions without charge were defeated in the House of Commons on 9 November 2005. Liberty feared that the 90 day detention would have had a severe impact on community relations because minorities would be targeted for what is the equivalent of a six month custodial sentence – more than twenty times the pre charge detention time limit for murder. Liberty maintains that no extension of pre-charge detention can be justified without considering alternative measures.