Britannia Radio

29 April 2009 Am I A Terrorist - Or Not? The head of Counter Terrorism at Scotland Yard, Commander Shaun Sawyer, has finally admitted it was one of his men who stopped me at St Pancras over a year ago.   He goes on to defend such action on the grounds that Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000 allows police officers [so why was he in plain clothes and refused to identify himself] to question passengers "to establish whether they are or have been involved in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism. The examining officer may exercise this power whether or not they have grounds for suspecting the person to be involved in terrorism. No suspicious behaviour or history is required to invoke such power under the Act."   It is hardly necessary to comment further on such a blatant and outrageous misuse of power, let alone heap more contempt on the crass government which enacted such legislation. Apart, perhaps, to draw attention to the word "terrorism" itself. How, I wonder, does the Act's attempt to define it apply to me?   This is what it says:   Terrorism: interpretation (1) In this Act "terrorism" means the use or threat of action where— (a) the action falls within subsection (2), (b) the use or threat is designed to influence the government or to intimidate the public or a section of the public, and (c) the use or threat is made for the purpose of advancing a political, religious or ideological cause. (2) Action falls within this subsection if it— (a) involves serious violence against a person, (b) involves serious damage to property, (c) endangers a person’s life, other than that of the person committing the action, (d) creates a serious risk to the health or safety of the public or a section of the public, or  (e) is designed seriously to interfere with or seriously to disrupt an electronic system. (3) The use or threat of action falling within subsection (2) which involves the use of firearms or explosives is terrorism whether or not subsection (1)(b) is satisfied. (extract ends) With the best will in the world it is beyond belief that I might have been mistaken for a traveller with any of these intentions on my mind.  So I have replied to Commander Sawyer, thus: Commander Shaun Sawyer Counter Terrorism Command New Scotland Yard Thank you for your letter of 17 April, finally in response to my letter of 3 February. I am glad you have now unequivocally admitted that the individual who refused to identify himself at St Pancras was in fact a serving Metropolitan Police Officer under your command.  What a shame it took you so long. Your “justification” for this individual choosing to stop me without good reason is not only absurd.  It is also insulting. You quote schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000 but you totally ignore the fact that I was leaving the UK, not attempting to enter it. Since I have been stopped under other circumstances at terminal 1, LHR, again trying to leave the UK, I am drawn to the inescapable conclusion that the Terrorism Act 2000 is being used for purposes for which it was never intended. As such, it ought to be a matter of the gravest concern to you, particularly bearing in mind other recent examples of abuse of purpose by various executive arms of government. Ashley Mote MEP   To respond to, or comment on this Email, please email ashley.mote@btconnect.com