"Security chiefs say the power is an essential tool in cases where there is intelligence that someone is involved in extremism but has not yet committed a crime, such as someone associating with known plotters" .... from BBC News www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12283114

So its now not just a crime to be "thinking" about something ... its a crime to know someone who might be "thinking" of something ?

They are digging themselves into an even bigger hole !

The Common Law has managed to do a very good job for more than 1000 years - providing all the rights that the State needs, through Civil War, 2 World Wars etc - I see no reason whatsoever (other than providing spurious people with spurious jobs) to extend it.

terrorist attacks and sex hysteria have been used as Trojan Horses to bring in restrictive laws.

I assumed the security services just did what they wanted to do anyway.

veritas wrote:
terrorist attacks and sex hysteria have been used as Trojan Horses to bring in restrictive laws.

Yes, the Trojan Horse is the thin end of the wedge ('scuse mixed metaphors). These nasty principles will spread to other areas of law because they've already worked so well protecting us from terrorists or whatever other bogeyman du jour.

Terrorist or sex crimes affect very very few people, but these oppressive legal principles affect everyone. Therefore, I would honestly rather be blown up by a terrorist than live in a society where thoughtcrime, removal of the presumption of innocence and provisions to convict people soley on an ipse dixit basis are rampant. A pretty strict "Utilitarian Calculus" view but there you go.

I would like to reply to you, veritas, but under the new UK laws it may be illegal !

You may be committing thought crimes and then I (even though I did not know what you were thinking) would be guilty by association.

In The Know wrote:
I would like to reply to you, veritas, but under the new UK laws it may be illegal !

You may be committing thought crimes and then I (even though I did not know what you were thinking) would be guilty by association.

don't worry..in my socialist utopia you will be able to think whatever you want once I have freed you from the shackles of fascist capitalism.

veritas wrote:
don't worry..in my socialist utopia you will be able to think whatever you want once I have freed you from the shackles of fascist capitalism.

Unfortunately, in this new "utopia" (and just like Red Ed) you haven't a clue as to how this new blissful heaven will be funded !