Stung by the control order debacle, New Labour predictably counters with another set of anti-terror laws, fortuitously leaked in time to make the front pages of the Sunday papers.
Tony McNulty, the counter-terrorism minister last seen voting to keep parliament's affairs secret, now proposes that the police be given powers to stop and question members of the public on their identity and movements, whether they are acting suspiciously or merely popping down to the shops for a pint of milk. Anyone refusing to comply will face a criminal conviction and £5,000 fine.
The police haven't asked for any new powers: Section 44 of the Terrorism Act of 2000 - yes, we were losing our freedoms even before 9/11 - already permits officers to carry out searches without reasonable suspicion in areas deemed to be terrorist targets, which for the last six years have encompassed the whole of London and every railway station and airport in the country. Over 30,000 searches were conducted under these laws in 2004 -2005 alone. To date they have not resulted in a single terrorist conviction.
Instead of legislating for gaps where none exist, this government should start learning to do less, better.
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