Friday, 10 Nov 2006 09:14
Tories: Govt needs to be firm on terror
Friday, 10, Nov 2006 12:00
The Conservatives have called on the government to do more to tackle terrorism after the head of MI5 warned the threat was "serious" and "growing".
Shadow home secretary David Davis said last night's comments by Eliza Manningham-Buller, the head of MI5, showed the government "should be taking practical and effective measures to help us in the fight against terrorism".
Calling for a single, dedicated border police, Mr Davis said a single minister should be recruited to coordinate security efforts.
He also said intercept, or phone tap, evidence should be allowed in terror trials – echoing the the attorney general's comments this September that this type of evidence could be a "key tool" in prosecuting serious crime.
Dame Eliza's comments also reinforced the need for the government "to be firm on Muslim radicals and Imams who preach hatred to the West", Mr Davis said, adding: "Action by the government on this is long overdue."