The United Kingdom has become a "safe haven" for foreign terrorism suspects because European human rights legislation is making it difficult to deport dangerous people, Britain's anti-terror watchdog has warned.
In a sharp criticism of rulings handed down from the European Court of Human Rights, Lord Carlile said such laws hampered Britain's security and meant that terrorist suspects were able to stay in the UK.
The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that some foreign terror suspects cannot be sent home if there is a risk they may be mistreated or tortured.
In May, European law prevented the alleged ringleader of an al-Qaeda bomb plot and another man regarded by authorities as a serious threat to national security from being sent by Britain to their native Pakistan.
"The effect is to make the UK a safe haven for some individuals whose determination is to damage the UK and its citizens, hardly a satisfactory situation," said Lord Carlile in his annual review of counter-terrorist legislation.
But his analysis was disputed by human rights campaigners, with Amnesty International claiming it was "outrageous" to suggest that the UK had become a safe house for terrorists.
Unlike many other countries in Europe, Britain does not permit telephone tapping to be used in evidence - meaning several suspected terrorists have escaped prosecution. The European rulings also mean the UK has been prevented from deporting some suspected terrorists.
To circumvent the European law, Britain has asked countries to sign agreements pledging not to mistreat suspects deported there, including Algeria, Jordan and Ethiopia.
A pact struck with Libya is currently on hold after it was challenged by Britain's courts.
Lord Carlile, who is stepping down shortly from his position as the independent reviewer of anti-terrorism laws, backed that approach, saying: "I support the proposals in the counter-terrorism review that the government should pursue deportation arrangements with more countries.
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http://news.scotsman.com/news/Euro-laws-make-UK-a.6710774.jp
In a sharp criticism of rulings handed down from the European Court of Human Rights, Lord Carlile said such laws hampered Britain's security and meant that terrorist suspects were able to stay in the UK.
The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that some foreign terror suspects cannot be sent home if there is a risk they may be mistreated or tortured.
In May, European law prevented the alleged ringleader of an al-Qaeda bomb plot and another man regarded by authorities as a serious threat to national security from being sent by Britain to their native Pakistan.
"The effect is to make the UK a safe haven for some individuals whose determination is to damage the UK and its citizens, hardly a satisfactory situation," said Lord Carlile in his annual review of counter-terrorist legislation.
But his analysis was disputed by human rights campaigners, with Amnesty International claiming it was "outrageous" to suggest that the UK had become a safe house for terrorists.
Unlike many other countries in Europe, Britain does not permit telephone tapping to be used in evidence - meaning several suspected terrorists have escaped prosecution. The European rulings also mean the UK has been prevented from deporting some suspected terrorists.
To circumvent the European law, Britain has asked countries to sign agreements pledging not to mistreat suspects deported there, including Algeria, Jordan and Ethiopia.
A pact struck with Libya is currently on hold after it was challenged by Britain's courts.
Lord Carlile, who is stepping down shortly from his position as the independent reviewer of anti-terrorism laws, backed that approach, saying: "I support the proposals in the counter-terrorism review that the government should pursue deportation arrangements with more countries.
Read More
http://news.scotsman.com/news/Euro-laws-make-UK-a.6710774.jp
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