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Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005
The hastily-introduced Prevention of Terrorism Bill seeks to replace the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act of 2001, which has been criticised by the law lords’ for being “disproportionate and discriminatory”.
The purpose of the Bill is to provide the home secretary with 'control orders' imposing obligations on individuals involved in terrorism-related activity.
These orders are designed to restrict or prevent the further involvement by individuals these types of activities. Furthermore, under the new orders, people suspected of terrorism could be restricted in terms of use of Internet use and telephone calls.
The Bill will provide the government rather than judges to decide whether suspects should be detained. Other features of the Bill include the power to detain British and foreign terrorism suspects under house arrest without trial.
Commenting on the transfer of powers, home secretary, Charles Clarke said:
“As Home Secretary, I am accountable to Parliament for the decisions I make and it is my prime responsibility to protect the country and everyone in it. This leaves me in no doubt that it is for me to decide, based on all the information available from the security and law enforcement agencies, whether to make control orders against certain individuals who pose a serious threat to our security.”
However, the government state that even though the home secretary would pass the orders, the decisions are “subject to independent judicial oversight”.
Progress
House of Commons
First reading: February 22 2005 (HL Bill 61)
Second reading: February 23 2005
Committee and remaining stages: February 28 2005
House of Lords
First reading: March 1 2005
Second reading: March 1 2005
Committee stage:
Report and third reading: March 8 2005
House of Commons
Consideration of Lords amendments: March 9 2005
House of Lords
Consideration of Commons amendments: March 10 2005
House of Commons
Consideration of Lords amendments: March 10 2005
House of Lords
Consideration of Commons amendments: March 10 2005
House of Commons
Consideration of Lords amendments: March 10 2005
House of Lords
Consideration of Commons amendments: March 10 2005
House of Commons
Consideration of Lords amendments: March 10 2005
House of Lords
Consideration of Commons amendments: March 10 2005
House of Commons
Consideration of Lords amendments: March 10 2005
House of Lords
Consideration of Commons amendments: March 10 2005
Royal Assent: March 11 2005 (sitting as March 10 2005)
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