Posts Tagged ‘Terror Laws’
Civil Liberties
Howard Jacobson wrote an interesting article in the Independent: “Civil liberties or civil protection – which is the more important?”
The majority of people who mailed in were hostile to his stance but my own feeling was that neither ’side’ was approaching the problems sensibly either.
Bitching About China
Although I might find what happens in other Countries objectionable, it has often occurred to me that the constant bitching about what happens in China, Burma, Iran and many others is little short of hypocritical In the sense that coming from the Western countries, it assumes that there is only “one way” that things should be done, “Our Way” which is total nonsense.
Today the 53 year old Akmal Shaikh, a British citizen was executed by the Chinese for trying to smuggle 4 Kilos of Heroin into China 2 years ago which is fair enough 50g is enough in most Far Eastern Countries to face the Death Penalty. Drugs are a problem there and the penalties are commiserate, just because you are a Westerner does not excuse you for breaking their Laws, you get the same sentence as a Chinese person would, it is their Country. When in Rome…
Very Stupid Policing

There was an article in today’s Independent about photographers being harassed by Police when taking pictures in a public place under something called Section 44. For a more detailed explanation, please read the article:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/warning-do-not-take-this-picture-1833127.html
However in simple terms, a “Section 44” is in fact an area deemed to be a potential terrorist target so all Main Line Railway Stations, Airports and so on could reasonably be expected to be “Section 44 Zones” however, the Government will not admit where these zones are “because it might help terrorists”. In such a zone, the Police have the right to “Stop and Search” anyone they deem to be acting suspiciously, from this some “Plods” have decided that taking pictures is “suspicious” – wrong !
Extending the 28 days…
There is absolutely no case for extending detention without charge beyond 28 days and even that (28 days), is questionable in itself. I would suggest that Parliament generally and the Labour Government specifically, have completely failed to grasp the core issues here. Everybody needs to stand back and reassess the whole issue from a different perspective, a perspective of protecting society as best as possible without destroying what you are trying to protect, namely freedom, democracy and the rule of law.


