Ten o'clock news story

[alitalf]

There was a story on the news tonight about another move to extend the time that terrorist suspects can be held without charge beyond 28 days.

I've read about a few apparently inappropriate cases of people arrested under the prevention of terrorism act in recent years. The one that worries me most is that the old man who shouted "Rubbish" in response to something in a speech at the Labour Party conference, a year or two ago, was arrested under the prevention of terrorism act after he had been thrown out, apparently with more force than actually necessary, by the bouncers.

Does the possible extension of detention without charge, particularly with this politcal context, worry anyone else?

Comments

[sigisgrim.livejournal.com]

OK, I've now checked the facts on the heckling bloke. Firstly the heckling appears to have been a publicity stunt to get him (he was relatively unknown) into the running to be elected to Labour Party's National Executive Council, their governing body. He has now been elected.

Secondly, when he had been chucked out his security pass was withdrawn and the physical item was taken away from him. He then attempted to re-enter the conference. Because of the security that is enforced around all political conferences by attemtping to re-enter he was entering a restricted zone, which should result in the person being detained (not arrested, though I'm not sure of the preciece difference) under the terrorism act. However, within a very short time (within an hour) the detaining officer was told that he should be released.

This was obviously an instance where a terrorist act wasn't being perportrated, and which the police used excessive powers, though that was swiftly addressed. However, I think that the police's action should be viewed from their point of view. This guy was obviously not playing by the rules, he had been chucked out, and as far as the police were concerned he should stay chucked out. I also suspect he had managed to anoy the officer concerned. Anyway, simply be detaining him under the terrorism act would have got him removed from the area which would have been the been the aim.