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What is so difficult about reporting the correct piece of anti-terrorism legislation ?

The BBC story about an arrest and raid on premises in South Wales also uses the obviously incorrect "Prevention of Terrorism Act"

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/4742238.stm

If anybody is arrested or questioned for suspected terrorist related activity under the Prevention of Terrorim Act 2005, then the massively expensive surveillance of the 9 or so people currently under Coontrol Orders will have failed, and the Home Secretary Charles Clarke must resign.

The BBC have now corrected their South Wales terrorism investigation story approrpriately, after we had pointed out their factual error via their online feeback webform:

Thank you very much for your email concerning the arrest in Swansea

We checked again with South Wales Police, who said at the time in their
statement to all the media that the arrest was under the Prevention of
Terrorism Act.

They have clarified the position for us and now say it was under the
Terrorism Act 2000.

We have changed our story as a result

Thanks again for pointing this out

Regards

AAA BBB

NewsOnline Wales

BBC Wales
Llantrisant Road,
Llandaff, Cardiff CF5 2YQ

Is it just a coicidence that both the Bedfordshire Police and the South Wales Police forces, or at least their public relations spokesmen, are uttierly confused by the anti-terrorism legislation ?

What if they actually do find a real terrorist suspect and he gets aquitted because they have failed to use the correct legislation ?

How widespread is this problem ?

If you see the words "Prevention of Terrorism Act" in a news story or police press release, in relation to some suspected terrorist activity, then, if that were to be true, it would be time for Home Secretary Charles Clarke to resign, due to the utter failure of his repressive, intrusive and expensive Control Orders policy.

Regarding the UK: What type of person makes policing their life's work? The sort of person that identifies with authority and can blindly follow regulations, but with an underlying streak of lawlessness. Take the schoolyard bully: Not exactly "A-level", university material, so gets off on putting the fear of God into the other kids. Inevitably seen with a handpicked gang of like-minded henchmen.
The police send their recruiting team around shortly before the Sixth Form are kicked out onto the street, and young "Flashman" is an absolute shoe-in for the force. Qualifications (or lack thereof)? No worries, son. Two "O-levels" and a budgerigar and you're in. Face it, nobody can spell these days.
Remember, the police (unlike the military) have no officer corps. So your average solid bone-between-the-ears plod is very gradually promoted to the level of his own incompetence. By which time he's worked out a few techniques to disseminate blame, as well as a few scams to supplement income.
Of course there is a university-educated, fast track elite, but they are the exception. Care to comment Sir Ian. With Tony Blair’s Police State UK well on track, and the Prevention of Terrorism Act providing justification, it’s no surprise the worst elements in the police force are getting off on harassing demonstrators and generally pushing their weight about. But lacking the brain to be pro-active; simply reacting to events. Even the most right-wing governments must realise that it’s asking for trouble to ban or severely restrict peaceful protest. Because without a legal avenue to express dissent, violence becomes the only remaining channel for the most extreme elements. Ban marches and the bombing starts. Nice, neutral Buddhist country, anyone?

Dear Sir/Madam,

On 6th April 2006 Thursday night I have arrived in Heathrow Terminal 2 from Munich on Lufthansa flight LH 4764.

It was around 8.30 PM I was in immigration hall of the Terminal 2. When I reached the immigration officer’s desk, someone from the back moved to the desk and stand behind the officer. During the interview with the immigration officer, he first looked at the landing card and asked me how I am going to get Glasgow. As soon as the officer stamped my passport, he picked it up with the landing card and called me behind the desk. The entry stamp reads “Immigration Officer (2216) 6 April 2006 Heathrow (2)”.

He said he is from Special Branch Police officer and had plain clothes and was alone. He asked me where I was coming from, how long I stayed in Turkey, what was the purpose of my visit, what I am doing in Glasgow etc. I reminded him the fact that I have been stopped and questioned by Special Branch countless times and it has always been very unpleasant. He did not seem to take notice of what I said. He asked me first when the last time I have been stopped was and he said, “I am going to do some checks on you and will come back in 10 minutes time wait here!” He took my new Turkish passport with only one entry stamp in it.

I waited about 20 minutes standing position, there was no chair to sit and my prayer time was running late. He came back 20 minutes later and looked very agitated.

He asked me series of questions. As far as I remember:

1- You have travelled extensively, where do you find money for that?

2- Why did you go to New Zealand? How did you afford to buy the ticket?

3- What do you do for living?

4- What political party do you support?

5- Why do you keep beard? Why don’t you have more civilized look?

6- Are you a member of Al-Qaida? Do you involve, instigate and prepare any terrorist activities?

7- You have a British Passport. Why do not you use it?

First of all, I was very surprised how he got all the information about me as I do not have any criminal record. The passport he got had only one entry stamp endorsed 20 minutes earlier in his presence and all the pages are blank. It looks like Police is holding a file about me and I do not know any legal basis for that. I told him I do not involve any terrorist activities. I work in Glasgow and my wife works in Singapore and often she buys my tickets to SE Asia. I said I am not willing to discuss my political views and religious beliefs and family affairs here.

He got very angry and he asked “do you realize that you are in Airport?” I replied “yes”. He said; “in here, you cannot refuse to answer any questions, otherwise I will detain you and fuck you!” He continued, “The evidence and information we have about you is enough to keep you in Guantanamo Bay for a long time if the Americans knew that!” I said, “I thought my rights covered by Human Rights Act specially Article 8 – Right to respect for private and family life, Article 9 – Freedom of thought, conscience and religion and Article 10 – Freedom of expression.” His reply was “look, there is no Human Rights Law in here; your arse belongs to me!” He continued, “You must answer all the questions!”

He did not explain whether detention is a part of the questioning process or a way of punishment without jury and trial because I find the questions inappropriate, unlawful and intrusive.

I asked him how many passengers travel to New Zealand on daily basis from the UK and how many of them he personally asks how he/she can afford to buy ticket on daily basis. He did not answer. I asked him if the flights to NZ for only members of the “politburo” of the Blair government, he did not answer this question either.

In the end, he gave my passport back and said “you may go now!” I asked his name, he declined to answer. It was about 8.55 PM. I went to luggage hall, picked up my bags and continued my journey. Unfortunately I missed my prayer time by 15 minutes. He was about 6 feet tall and in his 40s.

Can you publish this story and give me some advice?

Yours sincerely

Mr. Sahin Lim

@ Sahin - what an inept way of supposedly securing our borders !

There was no need to be rude to you, even when asking stupid questions, which, if you had actually been a terrorist, might have tipped you off to some "intelligence" being held on your secret police file.

Unfortunately it will be a case of your word against the policeman's.

You might benefit from some advice from the Independent Police Complaints Commission, who may be able to gain access to CCTV video and possibly audio recordings, which you will not. However any IPCC investigation could take several months or years.

You might also wish to send a statement for informal consideration by Lord Carlile of Berriew Q.C., the Independent Reviewer of the Terrorism legislation in the UK, who is interested in the real life expereiences of members of the public, and not just official reports from the authorities. He will be given access to secret intelligence information , which may be witheld from the IPCC.

See "Send your views on the UK Terrorism laws to Lord Carlile of Berriew"

There are some token mechanisms to complain about the secret intelligence watchlist which you appear to be on.

This could be because you lead a "suspicious" lifestyle, or through "guilt by association", or it could easily be confusion with someone with a similar name.

You could try a complaint to the
Investigatory Powers Tribunal
PO Box 33220
London SW1H 9ZQ
Tel: 0207 035 3711

Note, however, that the Tribunal does not appear to have ever upheld any complaints against the authorities, possibly because it is hardly known by the public.

Let us know the results of any responses you get , if you do complain.

Use our PGP public encryption key if you want to email us stuff which should remain private from snoopers.

I WORKED AT ROYAL AIR FORCE LYNEHAN AS THE SATION ENERGY MANAGER. AS PART OF MY DUTIES I CARRIED OUT A FRAUD AUDIT AND REPORTED SERIOUS FRAUD AT RAF LYNEHAM INVOLVING AN MOD DEFENCE CONTRACTOR HUNTINGDON AVIATION AND RAF SERVICE OFFICERS.

I NAME THREE RAF SERVICE OFFICER TO THE MOD POLICE FOR SERIOUS FRAUD WITH HUNTINGTON AVAITION OF OVER £ 10 MILLION POUND PER ANNUM.

THEIR NAMES ARE GP CAPT JEOFF BULLEN, WG CDR FRANK SIMPSON (NOW PROMOTED TO GP CAPT) AND SQN LDR STEPHEN SMITH.

FOR MY HONESTY THE ROYAL AIR FOR HAD BE DISMISSED ON 123 SEPERATE CHARGES OF MISCONDUCT AND THEN ARRESTED SEVEN MONTHS LATER OFN A FALSIFIED COMPLAINT OF HARASSMENT FILED WITH THE CAMBIDGSHIRE POLICE.

I SUFFERED AN UNLAWFUL CONVICTION ADN A 12 MONTH PROBATION ORDER. I HAVE SPEND SEVEN YEARS UNDER 24 HOUR POLICE SURVELANCE SINCE THEN AND BEEN SUBJECT TO POLICE HARASSMENT, VIOLENCE, UNLAWFUL ARREST ADN USE OF TEH MENTAL HEALTH ACT TO BUGGER ME.

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE ON HOW TO HAVE THESE RAF SEVICE PERSONNEL ARRESTED FOR THEIOR CRIMES AND HOW TO FIND OUT HOW THE RAF POLICE USE AND CONTROL THE POLICE?

@ TIMOTHY - It does not appear that the RAF Police come under the auspices of the Independent Police Complaints Commission, which most other Police forces do. Nevertheless, they might be able to advise you better than us, especially as complaints against the Cambridgeshire Police are part of their remit.

They also have details on their website about detention under the Mental Health Act.

If you have some evidence, rather than just a feeling, that you have been under "24 hour Police Surveillance", then you can take this up with the Office of the Chief Surveillance Commissioner

Timothy, are you off your head or what?

The RAF would not do that unless you broke the rules for something, seems very fishy to me!

I would watch you accusations they could land you in worse trouble!

Tim get yourself a new keyboard you donut..