MPs demand fairer deal for terror suspects
A committee for MPs has sharply criticised the current way terrorist suspects are represented in court.
Terror suspects are currently represented by Government-appointed lawyers, or special advocates, cleared to review intelligence material.
They can examine classified, or “closed”, documents from MI5, MI6 and GCHQ on their clients’ behalf, but are not allowed to speak with the suspect or their solicitor afterwards.
Today the Commons Constitutional Affairs Select Committee condemned the system as “critically flawed” and called on the Government to remove restrictions.
The MPs called on ministers to reform the system so lawyers can communicate with the suspects, providing it does not compromise national security.
They urged the Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith QC, and the Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer of Thoroton QC, to “act swiftly”.
Three special advocates have resigned in protest over the restrictions under which they were forced to work.
Committee chairman Alan Beith, the Liberal Democrat MP for Berwick-on-Tweed, said: “To deprive someone of their liberty without telling them the charge or the evidence is completely foreign to our system of justice.”
MPs also criticised new “control orders” for terror suspects, claiming they were worried that the same system of restrictions would apply, and urged for them to be reviewed.
Home Secretary Charles Clarke can impose a control order on anyone who he has a “reasonable suspicion” is engaged in terror-related activities and his decision is then reviewed by a judge.
