Home Secretary unveils ‘unacceptable behaviours’ measures

Home Secretary Charles Clarke has published a list of ‘unacceptable behaviours’ which will form the basis for excluding and deporting extremists from the UK.

The list, which applies to any non-UK citizen whether in the UK or abroad, includes radical preachers and running website or writing and publishing material, which foments terrorist violence, serious criminal activity or hatred and encourages others to commit terrorist acts.

The measures have been announced in the wake of the July 7 London bombings, which killed 52 people.

Mr Clarke said that he would use his powers to deport and exclude from the UK, anyone who engaged in these types of behaviour.

Commenting on the measures, Mr Clarke said: "The terrorist threat facing the UK remains real and significant and it is right that the Government and law enforcement agencies do everything possible to counter it. That includes tackling those who seek to foster hatred or promote terrorism, sending a strong message that they are not welcome in the UK.

"Individuals who seek to create fear, distrust and division in order to stir up terrorist activity will not be tolerated by the Government or by our communities. By publishing the list today I make it absolutely clear that these are unacceptable behaviours, and will be the grounds for deporting and excluding such individuals from the UK.”

Mr Clarke said that the powers were not intended to stifle free speech of legitimate debate about religions or other issues. He said: “Britain is rightly proud of its openness and diversity and we must not allow those driven by extremism of any sort to destroy that tradition."

A database of individuals around the world who have demonstrated these unacceptable behaviours is to be developed and will be made available to entry clearance and immigration officers.

Both the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats welcomed the announcement, but it was criticised by Muslim and human rights groups.

Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said: ”The Conservative Party welcomes the proposals to strengthen the Home Secretary's powers to exclude or deport non-UK citizens from the country. We have been calling for the Home Secretary to use these powers for sometime. We look forward to these powers being implemented robustly and effectively."

Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesperson Mark Oaten said: ”We broadly welcome the use of powers to deport people, as long as the individuals involved have a right to appeal and the case for deportation is reasonable."

However, James Welch, Legal Director of Liberty, said: "Today’s announcement fails to answer the fundamental question; will the Government’s deportation plans result in suspects being sent to countries with a known record of torture?

“What has always separated us from the terrorists is that we do not torture people or send them to be tortured - that is the standard we need to maintain.

“Our view is clear we believe it is better for terrorist suspects be tried than shuffled around the world. If they have to be deported then at the very least there must be corroboration and robust involvement from international human rights monitors.”

The Muslim Council of Britain also criticised the list of behaviours as “too wide” and said they lacked clarity. In a statement, the MCB said: “The behaviours that the Government appears to consider as “unacceptable” have the serious potential of stifling legitimate expression of views with such draconian consequences as to cause deep alienation and anguish.”

The Islamic Human Rights Commission said they were “alarmed” at the unacceptable behaviours list. IHRC Chair Massoud Shadjareh said: ”The fact that Mr Clarke’s final list is almost identical to his initial proposals, despite numerous objections from interested parties, makes a total mockery of the consultation process.”

(KMcA/SP)