SECURITY MEASURES UNVEILED TO MPs
Security measures unveiled to MPs
THE British government last night published its proposals for the new anti-terrorist laws to be passed by parliament this week.
The draft Criminal Justice (Terrorism and Conspiracy) Bill, which goes before the House of Commons today, contains several safeguards for suspects.
The opinion of a senior police officer will be admissible in court as evidence that someone belongs to a specific terrorist group, but his or her word alone would not be enough to secure conviction. The case would still have to proved beyond reasonable doubt.
While courts would be able to draw inference from a suspect's refusal to answer questions during an investigation into membership, they could do so only if the suspect had first had access to a solicitor, and inference alone would not be enough to
convict. The bill would also enable the confiscation of a convicted individual's assets if they had been used in support of the group or could
be so used in future.
It also makes it an offence to conspire in the UK to commit terrorist or other serious offences in a foreign country.
Home Secretary Jack Straw said: "Terrorism is a major threat to our safety and the democratic system we cherish.
"It is vital we have at our disposal effective and practical measures to counter this threat and bring to justice those who persist in the use of violence."
He said that as he is to consult in the autumn on new, permanent anti-terrorist laws. The measures in the new bill will be temporary and subject to annual renewal -like the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
Mr Straw added: "In the meantime, recent events have made it important to act swiftly in certain areas and this bill sends a clear message that we will not tolerate those who want to use terror to impose their will."
The Bill itself does not name the organisations covered, but those concerned, which were specified under the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998, are: the Continuity IRA; the Real IRA; the LVF; and the INLA.
Secretary of State Mo Mowlam said: "Effective anti-terrorist legislation, consistent with the level of threat, is essential to underpin the Good Friday agreement and to allow peace to flourish in Northern Ireland. "The police and the courts must have the power to bring to justice those groups and individuals who show blatant disregard for democracy and peace.
"We have made it clear that this bill is specifically aimed at those groups and individuals."
The police officer whose evidence will now be admissible in court would have to be of superintendent rank or above.
THE British government last night published its proposals for the new anti-terrorist laws to be passed by parliament this week.
The draft Criminal Justice (Terrorism and Conspiracy) Bill, which goes before the House of Commons today, contains several safeguards for suspects.
The opinion of a senior police officer will be admissible in court as evidence that someone belongs to a specific terrorist group, but his or her word alone would not be enough to secure conviction. The case would still have to proved beyond reasonable doubt.
While courts would be able to draw inference from a suspect's refusal to answer questions during an investigation into membership, they could do so only if the suspect had first had access to a solicitor, and inference alone would not be enough to
convict. The bill would also enable the confiscation of a convicted individual's assets if they had been used in support of the group or could
be so used in future.
It also makes it an offence to conspire in the UK to commit terrorist or other serious offences in a foreign country.
Home Secretary Jack Straw said: "Terrorism is a major threat to our safety and the democratic system we cherish.
"It is vital we have at our disposal effective and practical measures to counter this threat and bring to justice those who persist in the use of violence."
He said that as he is to consult in the autumn on new, permanent anti-terrorist laws. The measures in the new bill will be temporary and subject to annual renewal -like the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
Mr Straw added: "In the meantime, recent events have made it important to act swiftly in certain areas and this bill sends a clear message that we will not tolerate those who want to use terror to impose their will."
The Bill itself does not name the organisations covered, but those concerned, which were specified under the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998, are: the Continuity IRA; the Real IRA; the LVF; and the INLA.
Secretary of State Mo Mowlam said: "Effective anti-terrorist legislation, consistent with the level of threat, is essential to underpin the Good Friday agreement and to allow peace to flourish in Northern Ireland. "The police and the courts must have the power to bring to justice those groups and individuals who show blatant disregard for democracy and peace.
"We have made it clear that this bill is specifically aimed at those groups and individuals."
The police officer whose evidence will now be admissible in court would have to be of superintendent rank or above.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0203
Published Date: 02-Sep-98
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