The new Terrorism Act which came into effect on Monday is proving highly controversial - with critics saying it could lead to thousands more people becoming terrorist suspects. Here, the Labour MP Ian Cawsey, a member of the Commons home affairs select committee, defends the new Act while John Wadham, director of Liberty, the human rights organisation, outlines his criticism of the legislation. The Terrorism Act 2000 became law on 19 February 2001 and provides legislation to deliver a modern, permanent, UK wide counter-terrorism framework. It replaces the current separate, temporary legislation for Northern Ireland and Great Britain.
Terrorism is a cowardly and barbaric crime.
The new Act gives new powers to combat the wide-ranging and evolving threats from terrorism, while at the same time it properly ensures that the rights of individuals are preserved. The definition of terrorism will apply to all forms of terrorism, not just international terrorism or acts linked to the affairs of Northern Ireland. The police will retain their current powers and have new powers to tackle terrorism financing and to seek the forfeiture of terrorist assets. Police applications for the extension of detention under the terrorist power of arrest will now be considered by a judge rather than by a minister. Northern Ireland may still have additional measures which will remain temporary.