Legal News

Newly re-elected Prime Minister David Cameron is to introduce a counter-extremism bill to tackle radicalisation, after saying that the UK has been a “passively tolerant society" for too long.

BBC News reports that Mr Cameron will tell the National Security Council that a counter-extremism bill will be included in the Queen's Speech on 27 May – and that “poisonous” extremist ideology must be confronted.

Home Secretary Theresa May proposed the bill before the general election, but it is reported that the Conservatives could not secure the support of their coalition partners the Liberal Democrats for the measures.

In the previous coalition government, the Home Office frequently struggled to deport those with links or suspected links to terrorist activities because of appeals under the Human Rights Act.

The new Justice Secretary Michael Gove has been tasked with replacing the Human Rights Act with a new British Bill of Human Rights, which will see Britain’s Supreme Court reinstated as the UK’s highest Appeal Court – meaning the European Court of Human Rights at Strasbourg would no longer be able to overrule decisions made in British courts.

Commenting on the proposed counter-terrorism bill, BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said that there may some opposition in parliament to it on the grounds that it may breach the right to freedom of speech.

The bill is also expected to include the introduction of banning orders for extremist organisations delivering hate speech in public places, but whose activities do not constitute being a terror group.

The Home Secretary has previously said the orders would apply if ministers “reasonably believe” a group intended to incite religious or racial hatred or to threaten democracy – or if a pressing need to protect the public from harm occurred, resulting from a risk of violence, public disorder, harassment or other criminal act.

If the bill is passed, any ban would be subject to immediate review by the High Court – but would make membership or funding of the organisation concerned a criminal offence, and extreme disruption orders could also be imposed on individuals guilty of inciting religious or racial hatred or threatening democracy.

Under the proposals, the Charity Commission will also be given more power to “root out charities who misappropriate funds towards extremism and terrorism”, BBC News reports – and the broadcast regulator Ofcom will also be able to take action against channels which broadcast extremist material.

It is also reported that Theresa May will tell the National Security Council that the government will empower institutions to “challenge bigotry and ignorance”.

Duncan Lewis Crime Solicitors – Terrorism Offences

Duncan Lewis criminal solicitors are available 24/7, 365 days a year to advise at any stage of a charge relating to terrorism, including charges involving being a member of a banned organisation or inciting religious or racial hatred.

Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of Legal Aid criminal defence solicitors and our staff speak more than 70 languages between them.

There are Duncan Lewis offices nationwide – and a criminal defence solicitor can usually reach a client at a police station or court in under an hour.

For expert legal advice on terrorism charges, call Duncan Lewis criminal solicitors on 020 7923 4020.

For 24/7 help at a police station, call the Duncan Lewis Emergency Hotline on 020 7275 2036.