Terrorism Acts

{{UKpolitics}}
The [[United Kingdom]]'s '''Terrorism Acts''' passed in 2000, 2005, and 2006 make it an offence to, among other things, be in possession of materials likely to be useful to [[Terrorism|terrorists]], and authorises the government or its agents to do pretty much what they like, if they believe they're protecting the people of the U.K. from terrorists. One of the more egregious provisions, empowering the police to search people who had done nothing suspicious, was ruled illegal by the European Court of Human Rights<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8453878.stm Stop-and-search powers ruled illegal by European court], [[BBC]] News, 12 January 2010</ref> and has since been repealed.<ref>[https://www.met.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/ph/photography-advice/ Advice and information: Photography advice], Metropolitan Police, undated</ref>

==Noteworthy actions under the Terrorism Acts==
*Arresting {{wpl|Walter Wolfgang|an eighty-four-year-old heckler}} at a party conference.
*Seizing the assets of several failed [[Iceland]]ic banks.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7662827.stm Britain v Iceland: Fish now finance]</ref><ref group=note>There might be valid legal reasons to seize the assets of a failed business (such as, say, foreclosure), but fighting terrorism would not be one of those reasons.</ref>
*Arresting someone for walking on a cycle path.<ref>[https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/two-wheels-good-two-legs-terrorist-suspect-vg2zg2xfd0j Two wheels: good. Two legs: terrorist suspect]</ref>
*Stopping an environmental activist from leaving the country.<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/oct/14/climate-change-activist-held Climate change activist stopped from travelling to Copenhagen]</ref>
*Arresting a man who boarded a train while in possession of a laptop and mobile phone, and while ''looking'' at fellow passengers.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/sep/22/terrorism.july7 Suspicious behaviour on the tube], ''[[The Guardian]]'', 22 September 2005</ref>
*Taking photographs of a disused flyover.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/8154511.stm Cameraman held under terror laws], BBC News, 16 July 2009</ref>
*Local councils have used legislation to spy on suspected litterers, to investigate a man suspected of working while receiving disability benefits, and to ensure that [[dog]] owners clean up after their pets.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7369543.stm Spy law 'used in dog fouling war'] BBC News, 27 April 2008.</ref><ref group=note>Again, making sure that dog owners clean up after their pets is a good thing to do, but using anti-terrorism as a pretext for it is just silly.</ref>
*Stopping people from joining a Gaza aid convoy (though [[Hanlon's razor|this was due to incorrect intelligence rather than abuse of power]]).<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lancashire/7900163.stm No charges for Gaza convoy trio], BBC News, 19 February 2009</ref>
*Detaining a man suspected of criticising [[Emmanuel Macron]].<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/apr/20/meps-condemn-suella-braverman-over-arrest-of-french-publisher-ernest-moret MEPs condemn Suella Braverman over arrest of French publisher] ''The Guardian'', 20 April 2023.</ref>
*Searching the phone of a lawyer in order to illegally seize privileged information about his clients.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/sep/17/lawyer-who-brought-hamas-case-claims-he-was-unlawfully-detained-by-police-fahad-ansari Lawyer who brought Hamas case claims he was unlawfully detained by police] ''The Guardian'', 17 September 2025.</ref>
*Probably some real threats as well.

[[Security theater|Doesn't that make you feel safe?]]

==See also==
*[[Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006]]
*[[Security theater]]
*[[USA PATRIOT Act]]

==References==
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==Notes==
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{{stub|law}}
[[Category:British politics]]
[[Category:Law]]

Categories: British politics, Law