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Human rights 'help fight terror' Human rights 'help fight terror'
(about 12 hours later)
The lord chancellor is to call for a change in the perception that the Human Rights Act is a "terrorists' charter". The lord chancellor has called for a change in the perception that the Human Rights Act is a "terrorists' charter".
In a speech in London, Lord Falconer will say that human rights, freedom and the rule of law are the most effective weapons in the fight against terror. In a speech in London, Lord Falconer said that human rights, freedom and the rule of law were the most effective weapons in the fight against terror.
He will also urge lawyers to allow policy-makers to decide how best to confront terrorism. He also urged lawyers to allow policy-makers to decide how best to confront terrorism.
Last week, Lord Falconer called for a blitz on the "nonsense" clouding the importance of the Human Rights Act.Last week, Lord Falconer called for a blitz on the "nonsense" clouding the importance of the Human Rights Act.
The lord chancellor will be speaking about the Act to the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies. The lord chancellor spoke about the Act to the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies.
Ahead of his speech, Lord Falconer told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the Human Rights Convention "does not in any way properly inhibit us from fighting terrorism".Ahead of his speech, Lord Falconer told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the Human Rights Convention "does not in any way properly inhibit us from fighting terrorism".
We are a free country - our freedoms are embodied in that convention Lord FalconerLord chancellorWe are a free country - our freedoms are embodied in that convention Lord FalconerLord chancellor
He said the legislation makes it clear that "human rights are not for a few individuals - they are for everyone".He said the legislation makes it clear that "human rights are not for a few individuals - they are for everyone".
The lord chancellor went on: "We are a free country. Our freedoms are embodied in that convention.The lord chancellor went on: "We are a free country. Our freedoms are embodied in that convention.
"We shouldn't be ashamed by it. We shouldn't be embarrassed by it. It doesn't prevent us fighting terrorism.""We shouldn't be ashamed by it. We shouldn't be embarrassed by it. It doesn't prevent us fighting terrorism."
He did, however, stress that on some occasions it is necessary to infringe on an individual's rights for the sake of the wider community.He did, however, stress that on some occasions it is necessary to infringe on an individual's rights for the sake of the wider community.
In his speech later, Lord Falconer is expected to say human rights are not a "straightjacket", but are the values which mark society out as being "different" from terrorists. In his speech later, Lord Falconer said human rights were not a "straightjacket", but were the values which mark society out as being "different" from terrorists.
Common senseCommon sense
And he will suggest it is time to tone down the language used in the debate about terror laws. And he suggested it was time to tone down the language used in the debate about terror laws.
He is also expected to issue a warning that government policy on terrorism must not become dominated by legislation, and that new laws should be introduced only when necessary.
Last week, Lord Falconer said a more "common sense" approach to human rights laws was needed by public bodies who sometimes misinterpreted them.Last week, Lord Falconer said a more "common sense" approach to human rights laws was needed by public bodies who sometimes misinterpreted them.
The Tories have said they would scrap the Act altogether claiming it is being abused by criminals.The Tories have said they would scrap the Act altogether claiming it is being abused by criminals.
But Lord Falconer said that if rulings did not make common sense, the Act had been wrongly interpreted.But Lord Falconer said that if rulings did not make common sense, the Act had been wrongly interpreted.
'Nonsense'
His comments followed previous reports of cases where the rights of criminals appeared to have been put above public safety.
In one instance, a convicted paedophile was allowed to use a gym shared by school pupils and a suspected car thief was served fried chicken during a 20-hour siege.
Lord Falconer told the BBC that these situations were "absolute nonsense".
The Conservatives say the Act should be replaced with a British Bill of Rights that complies with the European Convention on Human Rights.
There were reports of plans to make sweeping changes to human rights laws last year - but a government review recommended that new guidance should be given on interpreting the Act instead.