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Britain terrorism act 2000 { December 4 2003 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/3290383.stmhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/3290383.stm
Last Updated: Thursday, 4 December, 2003, 11:28 GMT
What has become of Britain's 500 'terrorist suspects'?
Of the 500 people arrested in Britain under the Terrorism Act since 9/11, so far only two have been convicted. What has happened to the others?
ARRESTS, CHARGES & DETENTION
529 arrested under Terrorism Act 2000
77 have been charged under it
17 foreign nationals have been held under emergency powers granted in 2001
The arrest this week of 14 terrorist suspects in the UK brings to 529 the number of people held under the landmark Terrorism Act 2000.
All but 30 of them were detained after the attacks in America on 11 September 2001, a date which signalled a stepping up of the fight against global terrorism.
A handful of people have also been held under controversial emergency powers, introduced shortly after 9/11, which allow foreign suspects to be detained indefinitely without charge.
What has happened to these people?
Of the 529 arrested, 77 people have been charged under the Terrorism Act. Only two - Baghdad Meziane and Brahim Benmerzouga - have been convicted. The pair were found guilty in April this year of raising funds for terrorism and were each jailed for 11 years.
A further two have been acquitted, including Sulayman Zain-ul-abidin who was cleared last year of trying to recruit terrorists through a website he ran from his home in south London.
Outlawed terror groups
All the other cases have yet to come to trial, although custody time limits mean that those who have been on remand the longest must expect to be tried soon.
On Thursday, Sajid Badat, 24, from Gloucester, was charged under the Act with conspiring to cause an explosion. Earlier in the week, in a separate case, Noureddinne Mouleff was charged with being in possession of articles or items in connection with an act of terrorism, and conspiring to defraud banks.
As its name suggests, the Terrorism Act 2000 actually pre-dates the attacks of 11 September 2001. The legislation, which came into force in February of 2001, brought separate laws governing Britain and Northern Ireland under one roof.
It sets down a list of outlawed (in legal jargon "proscribed") terrorist organisations. These include al-Qaeda and several others such as the Kurdistan Workers' Party and the Tamil Tigers.
Critics say the sweeping powers granted by the law, which lower the normal standards of reasonable suspicion, have been used to target Muslims in particular.
In the US post 9/11, the police used their extra powers to go rooting for wrong-doing - now that's happening here
Lawyer Louise Christian
Community groups describe this as "racial profiling", for example considering somebody suspicious because of their style of dress.
But the law has been applied more widely. The trial of three men charged under the act with possessing guns and bomb-making devices to further the aims of the paramilitary Ulster Defence Association and Ulster Freedom Fighters, is due to start soon.
Yet to some, the fact that so many have been arrested then released without charge is evidence of a "fishing expedition" by the police.
It's been reported that 230 of those initially held under the Act have been accused of other offences, such as credit card fraud and immigration irregularities. The Home Office could not confirm this figure.
"The ratio of seven to one is vastly disproportionate," says civil liberties lawyer Louise Christian. "In the US, post 11 September, the police used their extra powers to go rooting for wrong-doing. Now that's happening here."
Emergency powers
A spokesman for the Home Office rejected the accusation, saying many held under the Act go on to be charged for terrorism-type offences.
"It's important to remember when looking at the statistics of people arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000 that they may be charged or convicted for related terrorism offences under other legislation such as making chemical weapons, murder or causing an explosion," said the spokesman.
Use of the Act is currently being reviewed by a Privy Council committee, which is expected to report to Home Secretary David Blunkett this month.
A further 17 people have been detained under Part 4 of the Anti-Terrorism Crime and Security Act 2001, which allows foreigners to be held indefinitely without charge.
Two have voluntarily left the country - a right of anyone held under the Act. One, a Moroccan named Djamel Ajouaou, returned to his native country while the other, an Algerian, volunteered to go to France. Another is now being detained under other powers.
In October, appeals by 10 of the remaining 14 held under this law were rejected. A commission of judges said there was "sound material" to back Mr Blunkett's decision that the men were a risk to national security.
Dr Paul Cornish, a security expert at King's College, London, says the heavy use of both acts reflect the sense of urgency to thwart an attack on Britain.
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