Glorification offence an unwelcome and unnecessary distraction
Ming Campbell MP responding to the vote in the House of Commons on a new offence of glorifying terrorism, said:
The purpose of passing legislation is not to ‘send a message’ as the Prime Minister seems to argue, it is to change the law.
A practical and effective change, which would help bring terrorists to justice, would be to allow the use of telephone intercept evidence in court. It works in other developed countries. It would work here.
This new offence is an unwelcome and unnecessary distraction. The present laws are perfectly adequate to deal effectively with crimes of incitement. The law on glorification may well have unwelcome implications for freedom of speech, but it will do nothing to improve public safety.
