The Terrorism Acts - why they are wrong

The terrorism laws passed since 2000 add up to radical attack on civil liberties. The main elements of the new regime are the Terrorism Act 2000, the Anti-Terrorism Crime and Security Act 2001 and the prevention of Terrorism Act 2005. New, fast-track extradition arrangements with the US and Europe supplement the terrorism laws by taking away from Britons accused of "terrorism" by foreign governments the right to a fair hearing in a British court . And draconian new laws on immigration and asylum make it easy for the Home Office to deport foreign citizens that it views with suspicion - many people initially arrested on suspicion of terrorism have subsequently been deported, even when charges against them have been dropped.

The new terrorism laws undermine our rights because:

• The definition of terrorism has been so extended that many forms of legitimate political activity are now classed as 'terrorist'.
• The new acts cover activities inside and outside the UK; previous terrorism laws concentrated on activities within the UK. This means that someone living in Britain who supports a legitimate struggle against oppression abroad risks being classified as a terrorist.
• Most provisions of the new acts are permanent and not subject to review by parliament; previous anti-terrorism legislation has largely been temporary.
• The new acts remove the right to a trial; under the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005 the Home Secretary can impose a control order on anyone in the UK, subjecting them to severe restrictions without a trial and without them even being charged with a criminal offence.
• The new acts violate basic rights of privacy. For example, they force communications providers to store users' data so that it can viewed by the state if they fall under suspicion at a later date.

Terror laws in detail.