Overview

The Prevention of Terrorism Bill aims to enhance the government's powers to combat terrorism by allowing the government to temporarily suspend certain aspects of the Human Rights Act 1998 when dealing with anti-terrorism legislation and to give more weight to ministerial decisions during a public emergency.

Description

This bill grants the Secretary of State the power to certify Acts of Parliament or parts thereof as primarily designed to prevent terrorism. This certification allows the government to temporarily override certain protections under the Human Rights Act 1998 (Sections 2-18) for these specified anti-terrorism measures. The bill also clarifies that the right to habeas corpus and a fair trial remain unaffected, even when this temporary override is in effect. Importantly, during a declared public emergency, courts must consider government decisions related to terrorism and national security when interpreting laws covered by a certificate. A public emergency is to be declared by the Secretary of State and submitted to Parliament.

Government Spending

The bill does not directly specify any changes to government spending. The financial implications would depend on the specific measures implemented under the certified anti-terrorism legislation.

Groups Affected

This bill could affect several groups:
Suspected terrorists: The bill may lead to a reduction in rights and protections for those suspected of terrorism during public emergency periods.
Law enforcement: The bill gives law enforcement agencies more powers to act against suspected terrorists.
Courts and tribunals: Courts must consider government decisions on national security when interpreting relevant legislation during public emergencies.
Civil liberties groups: Groups concerned with civil liberties may oppose the bill's potential impact on human rights protections.

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