UK Terrorism Law Used for Non-Terrorism Purposes
The U.K. has used terrorism laws to stifle free speech; now it’s using them to keep pedestrians off bicycle paths.
With her year-round tan, long blonde hair and designer clothes, Sally Cameron does not look like a threat to national security.
But the 34-year-old property developer has joined the ranks of Britain’s most unlikely terrorist suspects after being held for hours for trespassing on a cycle path.
And also to prevent people from taking pictures of motorways:
A Hampshire student was stopped and warned by police under new anti-terror laws—for taking pictures of the M3.
Matthew Curtis had been gathering images for the website of a design company where he works part-time when he was stopped, searched and cautioned.
The 21-year-old was told that he was in a “vulnerable area” as he snapped pictures of the M3 and was made to account for his actions before he was issued with a warning and told not to do it again.
Officers, who had quoted the Prevention of Terrorism Act, today apologised for causing concern but say they were just being vigilant.
I get that terrorism is the threat of the moment, and that all sorts of government actions are being justified with terrorism. But this is ridiculous.
Paul • October 19, 2005 12:11 PM
Not more rediculous than anything else. And unfortunately, probably not rediculous enough to make people sit up and notice how stupid/dangerous the whole anti-terrorism framerwork is.