To pass terror legislation, Theresa May would “rip up” human rights laws

CAIRO – 7 June 2017: British Prime Minister Theresa May is working to change human rights laws impeding the deportation of terror suspects, she said in a Wednesday statement which came just 36 hours before the UK’s general elections.

May declared that controls on extremists must tighten, as they could pose a threat but without enough evidence to prosecute them, the Guardian reported.

That comes in the aftermath of questioning intelligence failures in preventing London Bridge, Manchester and Westminster terror attacks.

There has been a debate few days ago over May’s proposal of downsizing police forces in England and Wales by 20 per cent for financial reasons, according to the BBC.

The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan objected that the planned cuts of 10-40 per cent in London over the next four years would cripple foiling terror attacks on the city.

As The Guardian reported, the proposed counter-terrorism measures could include more curfews, constraints on suspects travel destinations, limits on access to communication devices and restrictions on contact with other known extremists.

The current detention period without trial which is 14 days can be amended to go up to 28 days. The same step stirred rage among civil liberties advocates in 2005 when suggested by former British prime-minister Tony Blair following July 7 bombings, according to the Guardian.

May said she would consult with intelligence bodies to prolong the time period as needed which is a right granted by current legislations, if necessary.

The Conservatives Party stated earlier that Britain would not withdraw from the European convention on human rights during the next parliament but certain parts in the Human Rights Act would be amended or replaced.

May can as well seek derogations from the European Court on Human Rights (ECHR), which would as well exempt soldiers from human rights claims in military situations.