JURIST - Paper Chase: Blair blames judges for disappearance of UK terror suspects

[JURIST] UK Prime Minister Tony Blair [official profile] blamed judges and political opponents for the disappearance of two terror suspects [JURIST report] during his monthly news conference [transcript] on Wednesday, insisting that his attempts to enact stronger terrorism legislation "were prevented by opposition in Parliament and then by the courts in ensuring that was done." The missing uncharged suspects were under so-called control orders [Home Office backgrounder; JURIST news archive] restricting their movements and behavior, instituted after a court held that without an official charge, the government could not continue to detain them.

The UK Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005 [text] permits control orders [JURIST report] when individuals are suspected of involvement in terrorist activities, but there is not enough evidence to bring charges against them. In April, a High Court judge ruled [JURIST report] that control orders breach suspects' human rights, but stopped short of saying it was illegal for the Home Office to authorize the orders. UPI has more.

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