Home Office says opposition to detention without charge implies support for terrorism
The Home Office has said that the government has a "duty to protect the public and our national security" in the wake of the detention of David Miranda at Heathrow airport.
If the police believe that an individual is in possession of highly sensitive stolen information that would help terrorism, then they should act and the law provides them with a framework to do that.
Those who oppose this sort of action need to think about what they are condoning.
Sam Bowman, Adam Smith Institute:
We're always assured that new police powers will only be used in the rarest and most necessary circumstances, but once those powers are granted this often turns out to be untrue.
While Mr Miranda was held for nine hours, under the Terrorism Act he could legally be held for up to fourteen days without charge. The Home Office's suggestion that criticism of these powers amounts to a 'condoning' of terrorism is ludicrous. Right now, the biggest threat to our freedom comes from the state.