UK Lawmaker(s) to Ask Police to Explain Detention

[Hissyspit]

Source: Associated Press

UK LAWMAKER TO ASK POLICE TO EXPLAIN DETENTION

By DANICA KIRKA
— Aug. 19 8:15 AM EDT

LONDON (AP) — A British lawmaker on Monday called for police to explain why the partner of a journalist who received classified information from former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden was detained for nearly nine hours at Heathrow Airport.

Keith Vaz, the chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee, said that he wants to know why police stopped David Miranda, the partner of Guardian journalist Glenn Greenwald. Miranda was held for nearly the maximum time authorities are allowed to detain individuals under the Terrorism Act's Schedule 7, which authorizes security agencies to stop and question people at borders.

Miranda's cellphone, laptops and memory sticks were confiscated, Greenwald said.

"What needs to happen pretty rapidly is we need to establish the full facts," Vaz told the BBC. "Now you have a complaint from Mr. Greenwald and the Brazilian government — they indeed have said they are concerned at the use of terrorism legislation for something that does not appear to relate to terrorism — so it needs to be clarified, and clarified quickly."

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/uk-lawmaker-ask-police-explain-detention

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http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSBRE97I0J520130819

Use of UK terror law to detain reporter's partner causes dismay

By Estelle Shirbon
LONDON | Mon Aug 19, 2013 9:31am EDT

LONDON (Reuters) - British authorities came under pressure on Monday to explain why anti-terrorism powers were used to detain for nine hours the partner of a journalist who has written articles about U.S. and British espionage programs based on leaks from Edward Snowden.

Brazilian David Miranda, the partner of American journalist Glenn Greenwald, was detained on Sunday at London's Heathrow Airport where he was in transit on his way from Berlin to Rio de Janeiro. He was released without charge.

Miranda was detained under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000, which allows police to stop and question people travelling through ports and airports to determine whether they are involved in planning terrorist acts.

The opposition Labor Party urged the authorities to explain how they could justify using Schedule 7 to detain Miranda, arguing any suggestion that anti-terrorism powers had been misused could undermine public support for those powers.

"This has caused considerable consternation and swift answers are needed," said Labor lawmaker Yvette Cooper, the party's spokeswoman on interior affairs, in a statement.

[awoke_in_2003]

1. Investigating police actions...

novel concept. Off to Greatest.

[Ash_F]

2. Doubt UK police feel the need to answer to Labour.

Just like the head of the DNI didn't feel the need to answer to our Democratic Senators.

That is what you get when you bow before the right.

[idwiyo]

3. K&R

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. Met Police, 2009: Schedule 7 powers should only be used to counter terrorism

24. The withheld information in this case consists of the ethnicity data held by the MPS in respect of stops made under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000. MPS has argued that the purpose of the legislation is to prevent terrorist activity. In this respect, it told the Commissioner:
“Schedule 7 is used only for the purpose of countering terrorism”.

25. The Commissioner is aware that the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) published practice advice on the use of Schedule 7 in 2009. This publication clearly states that Schedule 7 powers should only be used to counter terrorism and may not be used for any other purpose.

http://www.ico.org.uk/~/media/documents/decisionnotices/2011/fs_50361870.pdf

[HooptieWagon]

6. Apparently "terrorist" has been re-defined....

to include journalists who publish details of abuse of power by govt.

[malthaussen]

7. Rather, anyone *connected* with such journalists.

Has Mr Miranda published any such details himself? This is guilt-by-association, much the same argument as is used to defend "collateral damage" by drone strikes -- anyone "near" a "terrorist" is ipso-facto a "terrorist" himself.

Even if one accepts that grounds exist for indictment against Mr Greenwald, it is difficult to see what that has to do with Mr Miranda.

-- Mal

[WillyT]

5. K & R !!!

[JoeyT]

8. All they need to do is go on the internet.

Where they can find self-proclaimed skeptics that shout the first authority supporting rumor they hear at the top of their lungs. When they're not busy insisting they're totally neutral and shouldn't be called authoritarians, natch.

[PSPS]

9. The swooners in the US will fully support this rogue action, just as they do such actions in the US.