A key plank of the Government’s anti-terror laws was in tatters last night after the European Court of Human Rights ruled that police stop and search powers were unlawful.
The surprise ruling stunned the Home Office, which swiftly announced that the Government would seek to appeal against the unanimous ruling by seven judges.
Despite the judgment, Alan Johnson, the Home Secretary, said that police would continue to use the powers, which allow them to stop and search people without having to suspect them of involvement in terrorism.
The ruling is a further blow to counter-terrorism law, after the controversial control order regime — under which suspects can be held in a form of house arrest — was weakened by a series of court rulings.
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Isn’t there something wrong with the EU court imposing it’s own interpretation of British laws on British soil? I think the Brits need to take back their country and tell the EU to sod off.
Looks like they could use some form of “notwithstanding clause” elements in their legislation. Time to read the riot act to the judges.