UK Police Ask for Sweeping Powers
In the wake of Thursday's failed bombing attempts in London, and the attacks two weeks ago that killed 56 people, British police have asked Prime Minister Tony Blair for new powers to help them battle extremists.
British police on Thursday night told UK Prime Minister Tony Blair that they need sweeping new powers to counter the terrorist threat, including the right to detain a suspect for up to three months without charge instead of the current 14 days.
Senior officers also want powers to attack and close down Web sites, and a new criminal offence of using the Internet to prepare acts of terrorism, to "suppress inappropriate internet usage."
They also want to make it a criminal offence for suspects to refuse to cooperate in giving the police full access to computer files by refusing to disclose their encryption keys.
Ken Jones, the chairman of ACPO's terrorism committee, said: "Often there is a need to intervene and disrupt at an early stage those who are intent on terrorist activity, in order to protect the public. Clearly our legislation must reflect the importance of such disruptive action"
The BBC reports that British Tourism Industry Emergency Response Group says the attacks could cost Britain up to 300 million pounds (or about US $530 million) in lost tourism. In particular, Thursday's attacks could create the impression that London is just not a safe place to go.
British police on Thursday night told UK Prime Minister Tony Blair that they need sweeping new powers to counter the terrorist threat, including the right to detain a suspect for up to three months without charge instead of the current 14 days.
Senior officers also want powers to attack and close down Web sites, and a new criminal offence of using the Internet to prepare acts of terrorism, to "suppress inappropriate internet usage."
They also want to make it a criminal offence for suspects to refuse to cooperate in giving the police full access to computer files by refusing to disclose their encryption keys.
Ken Jones, the chairman of ACPO's terrorism committee, said: "Often there is a need to intervene and disrupt at an early stage those who are intent on terrorist activity, in order to protect the public. Clearly our legislation must reflect the importance of such disruptive action"
The BBC reports that British Tourism Industry Emergency Response Group says the attacks could cost Britain up to 300 million pounds (or about US $530 million) in lost tourism. In particular, Thursday's attacks could create the impression that London is just not a safe place to go.
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