Ex-MI5 Boss Accuses Govt Of 'Exploiting Fear Of Terrorism'

Former head of MI5 Dame Stella Rimington has accused the Government of exploiting people's fear of terrorism to restrict civil liberties.

In an interview with Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia, the 73-year-old, first female head of the Security Service, said people in Britain felt like they were living "under a police state".

Dame Stella, who stood down as MI5's Director General in 1996 also attacked the United States approach, saying they had "gone too far with Guantanamo and the tortures".

She added: "MI5 does not do that. Furthermore it has achieved the opposite effect - there are more and more suicide terrorists finding a greater justification."

"It would be better that the government recognised that there are risks, rather than frightening people in order to be able to pass laws which restrict civil liberties, precisely one of the objects of terrorism - that we live in fear and under a police state," Dame Stella said.

The former Security Services boss has been a harsh critic of the Government's policies, in recent years, including attempts to extend pre-charge detention for terror suspects to 42 days as well as the controversial ID cards plan.

She added: "The US has gone too far with Guantanamo and the tortures. MI5 does not do that. Furthermore it has achieved the opposite effect - there are more and more suicide terrorists finding a greater justification."

Dame Stella's criticisms come as a report by a panel of leading judges and lawyers said measures to tackle terrorism have undermined international human rights laws.

The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) accused both the UK and US of undermining the framework of international law.

Former Irish President and president of ICJ, Mary Robinson, said: "Seven years after 9/11 it is time to take stock and to repeal abusive laws and policies enacted in recent years."

(JM/BMcC)