McIntosh calls on Parliament to steer Anti-terrorism Act

Parliament must act to oversee the implementation of the controversial Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001, the Law Society said this week.

Calling on the home affairs select committee to take the role of watchdog, Law Society President David McIntosh said: 'We want security, not witch-hunts.

There is a real danger that this Act could inflict a blow against people's privacy, and undermine individual freedoms.

'The select committee is ideally placed to monitor the operation of this legislation...

It is best placed to ensure that the state does not increase its powers by stealth.'Areas of particular concern are: the power to detain suspected terrorists indefinitely without charge and removal of the right to seek judicial review; the retention of communications data; and extended disclosure powers permitting public authorities to disclose information where there are criminal proceedings or a criminal investigation, without the police needing a reasonable suspicion that it relates to national security.