Terror laws slammed

Two leading human rights groups have slammed the government's anti-terrorism legislation - backed by the House of Commons this week - as unlawful after both took leading counsel's opinions.Justice and Liberty both say that the government's derogation from article 5 of the European Convention on Human Rights (the right to liberty and security) would be unlawful if the Bill remains unchanged.The government has to announce a state of public emergency to effect the derogation.Advising Liberty, David Pannick QC said the government had not established that there is a 'public emergency threatening the life of the nation'.

He said: 'There have been no terrorist incidents in this country arising from the September 11 attacks in New York.'Advising Justice, David Anderson QC said that although the courts might accept that such a public state of emergency does exist, detention provisions in the Bill are unnecessarily broad and should be amended.Nicholas Blake QC, of Cherie Booth's chambers, Matrix, told a Liberty seminar last week that all the members of Matrix he had spoken to are also opposed to the law.Meanwhile, Home Secretary David Blunkett this week accepted the arguments behind a Law Society amendment to his proposed anti-terror legislation.

The Society said that he must have reasonable grounds for suspecting someone of being an international terrorist.

As drafted, the home secretary did not need a reason.Jeremy Fleming