The draft order to
renew control orders legislation was today laid before Parliament
by the Home Secretary. Control orders are an important tool to
deal with suspected terrorists who cannot be prosecuted or deported.
The annual report on the operation of control orders legislation
by independent reviewer of terrorism legislation Lord Carlile has
also been published today. This includes his analysis of the
viability of the control orders regime in light of the House of
Lords' judgment in June 2009, as requested by the Home
Secretary.
Home Secretary Alan Johnson said:
"The Government has no higher priority than protecting
the public from terrorism. Control orders remain an important tool
to deal with a small number of suspected terrorists who cannot be
prosecuted or deported.
"I believe the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005
continues to strike the right balance between protecting the
public and safeguarding the rights of the individual, which is why
I am asking Parliament to renew the Act.
"I am also grateful to Lord Carlile for his detailed
report, which we will consider carefully and respond to in due
course."
In his report, Lord Carlile maintains
that the control order regime remains viable and necessary, and
concludes he would have reached the same decision as the Secretary
of State in each case in which a control order was made in 2009.
In the report Lord Carlile concludes:
*
"As the independent reviewer of terror legislation, it is
my view and advice that abandoning the control orders system
entirely would have a damaging effect on national
security."
* "There is no better means of dealing with the serious
and continuing risk posed by some individuals."
* "I have considered whether control orders can or
should be replaced by something else, or even renamed. I have been
unable to find, or devise, a suitable alternative for the
important residue of cases that cannot be dealt with by
prosecution..."
In addition, a post-legislative
assessment memorandum on the 2005 Prevention of Terrorism Act was
laid before Parliament today. This is part of the
Government's commitment to give post-legislative scrutiny
to all Acts after 2005. The document reiterates the Home
Secretary's commitment to the control orders regime in
order to protect the public.
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. The debate which follows the draft renewal order will follow
shortly, subject to parliamentary timetabling.
2. Lord Carlile of Berriew Q.C. was appointed in 2001 as the
independent reviewer of terrorism legislation.
3. The statutory consultees for the renewal of the control order
legislation (the Director General of the Security Service, the
Intelligence Services commissioner and the independent reviewer of
the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005) all continue to support the
maintenance of the control order regime.
4. For further
enquiries, contact the Home Office Newsdesk on 020 7035 3535.
016/2010
Contacts:
Home Office Press Office
Phone: 020 7035 3535
NDS.HO@coi.gsi.gov.uk