Abstract
After the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Centre in 2001, the United States reacted by enacting legislation, that was hoped would fight terrorism. The events of September 11 not only caused great distress and shock to many people but the reverberations across the world caused panic. The threat of terrorism has mainly come from small groups of people regarded as “extremists” or “fanatics” pursuing political, ideological and social goals. Few of us will forget the horrific pictures of the Twin Towers collapsing amidst the dust and carnage or the grotesque television images and telephone conversations on board the doomed aircraft. So began ‘The war on terror’ and the challenge for western democracy who now have the unenviable responsibility to safeguard national security and liberty. It does appear that counter terror policy has become instinctive and not well though out. This article will examine the changes faced by the new Terrorism Act with the notion of civil liberties and innocence.
Highlights
At a Labour Conference on September 27 2005 Tony Blair stated “We are trying to fight 21st century crime...with 19th century methods, as if we still lived in the time of Dickens
People willing to sacrifice their lives in order to complete their social, ideological and political goals had again succeeded in making the world dance to their tune
The European Convention on Human Rights and the European Court of Human Rights has not developed a definition of terrorism according to Colin Warbrick “A widely accepted definition of terrorism in international law has proved elusive”(see ‘The Principles of the European Convention on Human Rights and the Response to State Terrorism’ Colin Warbrick E.H.R.L.R Issue 3 [2002] Sweet & Maxwell Ltd 2002)
Summary
At a Labour Conference on September 27 2005 Tony Blair stated “We are trying to fight 21st century crime...with 19th century methods, as if we still lived in the time of Dickens. That must be the duty of any criminal justice system. Surely our primary duty should be to allow law-abiding people to live in safety. It means a complete change of thinking. It means deciding whose come first.” (Full speech can be accessed at the Labour Party website (www.labour.org.uk) 2007). Helpless civilians butchered to death in the name of four suicide bombers pursuing political change. People willing to sacrifice their lives in order to complete their social, ideological and political goals had again succeeded in making the world dance to their tune. The terrorist attacks killed 52 people and over 700 people were injured
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