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Give Law Enforcement Authorities the Tools They Need to Combat Terrorism
Wednesday September 7 2005
The European Parliament must act to enable, not obstruct, law enforcement authorities in their efforts to combat terrorism, Timothy Kirkhope MEP, leader of Conservatives in the European Parliament, said today in a parliamentary debate on the terrorism threat opened by Home Secretary Charles Clarke MP.
Mr Kirkhope said: "Harmonisation of anti-terrorism measures is a flawed approach. It denies our police and security services the flexibility and adaptability they need to stay one step ahead of the terrorists. Cooperation between member states is the way forward. "It's of paramount importance that law enforcement authorities have the tools they require to protect us. They must not be hamstrung by excessive and unnecessary bureaucracy.
"Terrorists seek to divide us. To defeat them we must use the means at our disposal, particularly new technologies and advances in data retention.
"Let's ensure we find the right balance between the rights of individuals to fair treatment and the rights of society to live free from fear."
Geoffrey Van Orden MEP, Conservative spokesman on defence and human rights in the European Parliament, said the home secretary should seek to bolster the UK's defences against terrorism first and foremost.
Mr Van Orden said: "We must take urgent steps to secure our borders in the UK. We are not hamstrung by the EU Schengen system. But at the moment we still have no idea who enters or leaves our country. UK-based organisations which support terrorism in Britain or abroad should be closed down."
ENDS
