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UK: Statement by the Prime Minister to parliament on national security plans

01 July 2007

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Statement (pdf) includes consultation over period of detention in terrorist cases (currently up to 28 days), possible use of intercept evidence in court and separation of powers between the Joint Intelligence Committee and the government's policy advisor (as a result of the "dodgy" Iraq dossiers on WMD in Iraq). The statement also makes great play on "border management" (e-Borders) and "identity management":

"The way forward is electronic screening of all passengers as they check in and out of our country at ports and airports - so that terrorist suspects can be identified and stopped before they board planes, trains and boats to the United Kingdom."

But then goes on to talk about "terrorists", "criminals" and "illegal immigrants" and access to "criminal records" from across the EU plus the need for "ID security within our own borders"

Tony Bunyan, Statewatch editor, comments:

"Nobody wants to get on a plane or boat with a known or suspected terrorist and all necessary measures should be taken to stop terrorist attacks in the UK.

However, by proposing the monitoring of everyone's travel in and out of the UK for just about any purpose and the introduction of ID cards the government is seeking to legitimate the surveillance society in the name of the fight against terrorism."

Other background documents (25.7.07):

- Possible measures for inclusion in a future Counter Terrorism Bill

- Options for pre-charge detention in terrorist cases

- Scrutiny of pre-charge detention in terrorist cases

- Government Discussion Document Ahead of Proposed Counter Terror Bill 2007 (previous Home Secretary)

- Letter from John Reid to Lord Carlile

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