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Proceeding contribution from Baroness Neville-Jones (Conservative) in the House of Lords on Wednesday, 26 January 2011. It occurred during Ministerial statement on Counterterrorism Review.


Counterterrorism Review

I am sure that the last point would be very widely accepted. It does not particularly facilitate observance of the law or good behaviour on the part of someone who is under a measure of this kind if they cannot occupy their time usefully. One of our objectives has been to bring the daily life of people who are under such restrictions as near to normality as it can be, while being compatible with the security of the rest of the community. On the question of whether we are rebranding, I hope I made it quite clear to your Lordships that this is not a rebranding exercise. There are significant differences in the measures that we are putting into place. They have a purpose that includes the need to continue at all times to open up the maximum opportunity for actual prosecution. One of the chief complaints about the previous regime, in our view, was how it made that extraordinarily difficult. As the noble Baroness will be aware, we have raised the test to reasonable belief. We want to work in co-operation with the High Court. One thing that has clearly been learnt through experience is that to get into a situation in which any measures that we put in place are subsequently demonstrated in the High Court or in a court to be unacceptable does not add to their credibility. We want to get into a situation in which there is a clear understanding. We believe that it is necessary for the Home Secretary to be able to act in emergencies without seeking prior agreement with the High Court because, as I am sure noble Lords can imagine, in practical circumstances there may be a great need to do something extremely fast.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
724 c973-4 
Session
2010-12
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
Subjects
Civil liberties Counter-terrorism Curfews Detainees Deportation Exclusion orders Foreign nationals Internet Local government Police Powers Mobile phones Photography Travel Terrorism Stop and search Surveillance Telecommunications Anti-terrorism control orders Radicalism Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation Counter-terrorism and Security Powers Review
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk