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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Reid urges human rights shake-up | Reid urges human rights shake-up |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Home Secretary John Reid has called for human rights laws to be rewritten to protect people against terrorism. | Home Secretary John Reid has called for human rights laws to be rewritten to protect people against terrorism. |
| In a speech to ministers of the six largest EU nations in Venice, he said the current situation was unacceptable. | In a speech to ministers of the six largest EU nations in Venice, he said the current situation was unacceptable. |
| Citizens were not being protected by politicians who followed case law "to the letter", Mr Reid said. | Citizens were not being protected by politicians who followed case law "to the letter", Mr Reid said. |
| He added that the international legal system needed modernising and that the distinction between armed conflict and criminal acts was out of date. | He added that the international legal system needed modernising and that the distinction between armed conflict and criminal acts was out of date. |
| 'Leadership needed' | 'Leadership needed' |
| Mr Reid told the G6 summit: "We need to work to modernise the law - still protecting human rights and still providing equity and justice - but reflecting the reality of the conflicts and struggles we now face. | Mr Reid told the G6 summit: "We need to work to modernise the law - still protecting human rights and still providing equity and justice - but reflecting the reality of the conflicts and struggles we now face. |
| The right to security, to the protection of life and liberty, is and should be the basic right on which all others are based John ReidHome Secretary | |
| "We need leadership to do this. It can't be left solely to the lawyers. | "We need leadership to do this. It can't be left solely to the lawyers. |
| "Politicians must expose these issues and set a lead, so that we can protect the rights of all our citizens, including all those threatened by terrorism." | "Politicians must expose these issues and set a lead, so that we can protect the rights of all our citizens, including all those threatened by terrorism." |
| Mr Reid said neither the law governing war nor civil law was well-suited to dealing with terrorism inspired by al-Qaeda following the September 11 attacks. | |
| "The right to security, to the protection of life and liberty, is and should be the basic right on which all others are based," he said. | |
| "Now, more than ever, it should be the fundamental starting point of all our principles and practices across Europe." | |
| Department split | |
| Human rights laws have caused problems for the British government in its attempts to introduce anti-terrorism measures. | |
| These include emergency laws in 2001 which were defeated in the House of Lords, and courts overturning control orders which restrict the movements of terror suspects. | |
| The conference of home affairs and interior ministers is also being attended by US Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and EU security chief Franco Frattini. | The conference of home affairs and interior ministers is also being attended by US Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and EU security chief Franco Frattini. |
| Mr Reid's speech on the island of San Clemente came three days after the Home Office was split in the UK. | |
| A new Ministry of Justice will leave the Home Office to concentrate on terrorism, security and immigration. | A new Ministry of Justice will leave the Home Office to concentrate on terrorism, security and immigration. |