Control orders: ineffective but a blow to freedom

“Ineffective in the fight on terror – but a devastating blow to freedom” – that’s the pithy and accurate summary of control orders by Mary Riddell over in the Daily Telegraph. And the newspaper in which the piece appeared is are reminder of how civil liberty issues cut across the political spectrum in not always expected or neat ways.

Riddell points out,

Within the next few days, Mr Cameron and his deputy must reach agreement on the future of security in Britain and, in particular, on control orders and how long to hold terror suspects without charge. The “car crash” foreseen by the Prime Minister is now imminent. The question is who will end up in A&E.

Nick Clegg has publicly deplored the orders, which can use secret evidence to place people under house arrest, force them to move home and decree whom they may see. Punishing suspects over unspecified allegations without giving them the chance to defend themselves has appalled MPs of all parties. None has been more outspoken on this “fundamental” breach of liberties than Mr Clegg.

Meanwhile Jonathan Evans, the head of M15, deemed the control-order regime vital to guaranteeing public safety. Theresa May is said to have swung, as is the way of home secretaries, behind the security services. This impasse will shortly be tested by the six-part national security review, which is being drafted by a Home Office team for publication next month.

The review may come out clearly against control orders, in which case the political issues within the coalition will fall by the wayside as that will provide an easy route for Cameron to keep not only the Liberal Democrats but also people such as David Davis (another vocal opponent of control orders) on board. However, if the review comes out with a more nuanced view, for example by offering a range of possible options, then the political battle within the Coalition is likely to be intense.

Full credit to Jo Shaw for setting up the Facebook Cause Liberal Democrats Against Control Orders to mobilise opposition to them within the party (and you can sign up to it here [now closed]), but signing a Facebook cause is only one step. You can also lobby Nick Clegg directly via the contact details here [link now defunct].