Today the Independent Reviewer Lord Carlile made public his report on the control order regime powers under the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005 which the Government proposes to renew.

Director of Liberty, Shami Chakrabarti, said:

“When control orders were rushed through Parliament last year significant human rights and freedoms were railroaded. Alleged reports of the Independent Reviewer’s proposals to tighten the use of control orders are welcome, but his ongoing and very public support for them is disappointing.

The writing on the wall is that justice must never be compromised in the name of security, and we urge Parliament to again reject counterproductive anti-terror measures in the next round.“

Liberty Press Office on 0207 378 3656 or 07973 831 128

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. Control Orders were brought in by the Government under the 2005 Prevention of Terrorism Act. So far 18 control orders have been served on people suspected of involvement in terrorism. A control order severely restricts who a person can meet, where they can go and all cases so far have involved electronic tagging. They can potentially last indefinitely. The person does not have to be accused of any crime and does not have to be told why he is under suspicion.

2. Liberty calls on the Government to remove the bar on intercept evidence in criminal trials because its inadmissibility is a major factor in being unable to bring charges.