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Terrorism Bill

Is this not one step away from an ASBO issued by a policeman on his own opinion and judgment? As my noble friend said when he introduced the amendments, one does not know what the policeman’s experience is, or what his views or opinions are. By requiring the police to go to, shall we say, a circuit judge, the matter is not delayed by more than maybe half a day. I do not see that it is so vital to remove offending material immediately that an application to the court to have some judicial involvement is not justified. This is just another example of the way in which the Government seek to issue notices to people so that they will commit offences by not obeying those notices. Here it is just one remove from saying, ““We may prosecute you, and you will not have a defence””.