The Home Secretary John Reid today launched his discussion document proposing new powers to combat terrorism in Britain. Despite his softer presentation and calls for cross-party consensus the substance of his proposals still contains elements that are totally unacceptable.

Firstly, Reid refused to rule out suggestions that police might be given powers to stop and interrogate people without reasonable cause. The new powers aren't included in the current document but are the subject of an "internal consultation".

More immediately Reid also wants to have another go at increasing the length of time a suspect can be held without charge - previously this government has pushed for 90 days.

This is nothing short of internment without charge.

Let's do a quick thought experiment. Relax for a second. Imagine yourself asleep in you bed, at peace with the world. You feel warm, comfortable and safe.


Suddenly you're woken by a crashing sound. Your bedroom door bursts open. Armed police rush. They shout at you to get out of bed. They handcuff you at gunpoint.

You demand to know what's going on and they say you've been arrested on suspicion of terrorist activity. You tell them this is nonsense - they tell you to shut up. Ignoring your protestations they bundle you out through the remains of your smashed in front door.

You're thrown into the back of a police van which drives for hours. Eventually you arrive at a police station, they won't tell you where. When you demand access to a solicitor it's denied. They won't let you contact anyone. They refuse to tell you what you are suspected of having done. Instead they question you relentlessly. They ask about your religion, your politics, your friends and family. They ask you about names you've never heard of and show you photos of people you don't know. They repeat the same questions again and again and again.

This goes on day after day. You're kept in solitary confinement except when being questioned. After two days of interrogation you're finally allowed to see a solicitor - who knows little more than you. You aren't allowed to contact family or friends.

You're totally innocent yet they won't believe you. They just keep on and on and on with the same questions that you can't answer. They won't tell you why you're being held or what's going to happen to you.

The days turn into weeks, then months. Eventually after three months of internment you're released. You can tell that the police are reluctant to let you go and still refuse even tell you why you were being questioned. Three months of your life are gone, you've probably lost your job. There is no apology and no compensation.


If Reid gets his way that Kafkaesque nightmare could become real for any one of us at any time. It'll be unlikely, but not impossible. All it will take is one incorrect piece of information, one mix-up of names, one coincidence of you being in the wrong place at the wrong time.


John Reid said in the Commons today:

"I believe that terrorism remains the greatest threat to the life and liberty of this nation and of the many individuals who make up this country"

He's half right. The greatest threat to life is indeed from the terrorists. But the greatest threat to liberty is from government.

Techorati: civil liberties John Reid UK politics ukpolitics

Labels: civil liberties, John Reid