[IP] Britain Tries to Emulate the US
Begin forwarded message:
From: Bruce Schneier <schneier@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: July 24, 2005 10:21:30 AM EDT
To: EPIC_IDOF@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [EPIC_IDOF] Britain Tries to Emulate the US
http://www.guardian.co.uk/print/0,3858,5245014-117079,00.html
Police ask for tough new powers
PM told of need for three-month detention of suspects and crackdown
on websites
Alan Travis and Richard Norton-Taylor
Friday July 22, 2005
Guardian
Police last night told Tony Blair that they need sweeping new powers
to counter the terrorist threat, including the right to detain a
suspect for up to three months without charge instead of the current
14 days.
Senior officers also want powers to attack and close down websites,
and a new criminal offence of using the internet to prepare acts of
terrorism, to "suppress inappropriate internet usage".
They also want to make it a criminal offence for suspects to refuse
to cooperate in giving the police full access to computer files by
refusing to disclose their encryption keys.
The police would also like to see much clearer information given to
the public about the threat level, the creation of a specialist
border security agency and further discussions about the use of
phonetap evidence in terrorist cases.
The Association of Chief Police Officers published its list of 11
further changes in the law it wants after meeting Mr Blair and
security services chiefs yesterday.
MI5 and MI6 wanted yesterday's meeting to discuss Britain's entire
counter-terrorism strategy and how to fill the intelligence gaps
exposed by the London bombings.
Whitehall officials confirmed that, as reported in yesterday's
Guardian, the security and intelligence agencies want a new system of
plea bargaining. Convicted terrorists would be given lighter
sentences if they supplied information before their trials.
Suspects would be given the chance to provide information in
"intelligence-only" interviews and none of the information would be
used against them in trials.
Officials also said MI5 was "in principle" in favour of the product
of phone taps being used as evidence in trials. What has not been
resolved is who would pay for the resources needed to transcribe the
tapes in a way that would satisfy defence lawyers, according to
counter-terrorism sources.
The prime minister has said he is willing to consider any "gaps in
the law" that police and security chiefs identify as a result of the
London attacks.
Ken Jones, the chairman of Acpo's terrorism committee and Sussex
chief constable, said: "The evolving nature of the current threat
from international terrorism demands that those charged with
countering the threat have the tools they need to do the job.
"Often there is a need to intervene and disrupt at an early stage
those who are intent on terrorist activity, in order to protect the
public. Clearly our legislation must reflect the importance of such
disruptive action."
The most controversial of the police proposals is the demand to be
able to hold without charge a terrorist suspect for three months
instead of 14 days. An Acpo spokesman said the complexity and scale
of counter-terrorist operations means the 14-day maximum is often
insufficient.
"The complexities and timescales surrounding forensic examination of
[crime] scenes merely add to the burden and immense time pressures on
investigating officers," he said. Three-month periods would help to
ensure the charge could be sustained in court.
Other powers police told Mr Blair they needed include:
· Terror suspects to give compulsory answers to questions similar to
obligations on company directors in fraud trials;
· A duty on the private sector to install protective security in
designated locations;
· Putting private security staff at the disposal of the police in the
immediate aftermath of an outrage;
· New generation CCTV cameras at ports and airports.
The police sought extra funding for a regional network of Special
Branch officers and a further £45m to ensure national coverage for
the new generation CCTV cameras, which scan number plates and alert
intercept teams.
"The terrorist attacks in London on July 7 and today provide an
opportunity for us to reflect on our systems and practices to ensure
they are sufficient to counter such unprecedented events," Mr Jones
said.
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