Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures (T-PIMs) bill
by Aisha Maniar
On 5 September, the Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures (T-PIMs) bill had its third reading in the House of Commons followed by its first reading in the House of Lords the next day. The bill is to have its second reading at the Lords stage in early October and is expected to become law by the end of the year, with a transition period between the current control order regime, which it is to replace, and the new measures.
In her Review of Counter-Terrorism and Security Powers published at the beginning of this year, the Home Secretary Theresa May announced that she was going to abolish control orders, which had been introduced as a temporary emergency measure under the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005. They are to be replaced with a new set of measures under the Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures Bill 2011. The new measures have faced considerable criticism as they will essentially continue the current regime, which amounts to house arrest for controlees and their families, with the same secretive procedures leading to the imposition of the measures by the Home Office and courts. The measures will apply to individuals alleged to be involved in terrorist activity but who cannot be prosecuted or deported. As with control orders, this will be punishment without charge or trial, on the basis of secret evidence which cannot be meaningfully challenged. Current restrictions such as on freedom of movement, association, residence, etc. will remain. Tagging and curfews will continue to be used as part of the measures. Criticisms have been made by human rights NGOs, legal organisations and some politicians; they are overall considered to be little more than superficial changes as opposed to real concessions to address the current imbalance of civil liberties.
Short Amnesty International review of the provisions of the bill – June 2011:
http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/EUR45/007/2011/en/b32bbee7-5efe-4722-b1b9-65d6e2ef06f5/eur450072011en.pdf
Amnesty International UK press release on the latest version of the bill – 4 September 2011:
http://www.amnesty.org.uk/news_details.asp?NewsID=19666
Liberty on the latest version of the bill – September 2011:
http://www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk/news/2011/anyone-for-tpims-control-orders-with-a-twist-.php
Statement by Caroline Lucas MP:
http://www.carolinelucas.com/cl/media/indefensible-tpims-are-control-orders-rebranded.html
