International Law

Counter Terrorism Act 2008 - "attempting to elicit information" and secret DNA sampling and data sharing etc. come into force on February 16th 2009

The awful and unnecessary Counter-Terrorism Act 2008 is creeping into force, having been partially commenced by the rubber stamping of this Order:

2009 No.58 (C.6) - Prevention And Suppression Of Terrorism - The Counter-Terrorism Act 2008 (Commencement No. 2) Order 2009

2. The following provisions of the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008 shall come into force on 16th February 2009--

[...]

(d) section 76 (offences relating to information about members of armed forces etc), together with Schedule 8 (offences relating to information about members of armed forces etc: supplementary provisions);

See Counter-Terrorism Bill clause 83 reminder - chilling effect on reporting or speculation about military or intelligence service or police personnel ?

The War on Photographers , and Military Historians and Biographers etc. intensifies, by making it a serious terrorist crime to "attempt to elicit" information e.g. name, address, photograph etc.,about a current or former member of the Police, Armed Forces or Intelligence Services.

It does not matter f there is a legal defence available to you in Court, it is too late for your liberty and career, once you have been tainted and blacklisted, by being arrested under a terrorism law, even if you are never charged or are found not guilty.

How soon before this law is used to threaten, harass and arrest political demonstrators or activists, who take photos of the Police etc. who are taking photos of them ?

Why are former members of these organisations covered, without exception i.e. including all those who have been kicked out for treason, espionage, corruption etc and those Walter Mitty fantasists or con artists, who exaggerate their former military careers, skills or experience, for vanity or to swindle people.?

How soon before this law is invoked by those in the Police, Military or Intelligence services who want to hide or cover up incompetence, corruption or worse from investigative journalists or other investigators ?

Why are other people who are just as much targets of terrorists e.g. Judges, juries, prison officers etc. not covered by this law ? If they are adequately covered by the pre-existing Terrorism Act section 58, then why is this new Terrorism Act section 58A needed at all ?

(j) the entries in Part 2 (disclosure of information and the intelligence services), Part 4 (financial restrictions proceedings), Part 5 (control orders) and Part 6 (pre-charge detention) of Schedule 9 (repeals and revocations).

See Counter-terrorism Bill - covert DNA sampling and analysis with no effective safeguards

Keep guard of your teacups, they may be stolen from you by official burglars or undercover agents, who want to secretly sample your DNA or fingerprints, if Home Office Minister Admiral Lord West's ideas on how this bit of the Act is going to be used are true.

N.B. the main sections 19 to 21 Disclosure of information to the intelligence services were commenced on Christmas Eve, 24th December 2008, so, perhaps "Santa" or his little helpers were really after your DNA and fingerprints rather than mince pies etc..

Vernon Coaker

Minister of State

Home Office

19th January 2009

Coaker joins a long list of Labour Home Office Ministers who have legislatively signed away the freedoms and liberties of the innocent majority, without any proportionate decrease in crime or terrorism.

Is there time to makes some Freedom of Information Act Requests to the Police and Military, or to take some Photographs etc, before February 16th 2009 ?

Full post as published by Spy Blog on January 22, 2009 (boomark / email).