25 February 2010 - ‘Draconian’ control orders are a stain on the UK Government’s civil liberties record and must be scrapped by MPs when it comes to a crucial vote in March (1), Green Party leader and MEP Caroline Lucas said today.

Speaking in support of the efforts by the Campaign Against Criminalising Comunities (CAMPACC) (2) to stop the Government’s renewal of the controversial control order legislation, the Green politician said MPs should seize this opportunity to bring an end to the ‘anti-terrorism’ provisions which impose heavy personal restrictions on someone who may never have been charged with an offence.

The legislation permitting control orders must be renewed by Parliament by mid-March or else the powers lapse. A vote is to take place on 1st March and human rights campaigners are calling on members of the public to write to MPs urging them to vote against renewal.

Caroline Lucas MEP, who today signed CAMPACC’s open letter to the Home Office, said: “Control orders were always supposed to be a temporary measure brought in as part of the glut of ‘anti terrorism’ legislation following 9/11 – but after four years, there has been no signal from the Government that this repressive policy will be brought to an end.

“Essentially a punishment without trial, control orders are nothing short of draconian and have no place in a society that supposedly prides itself on a strong civil liberties record. The control order regime allows the authorities to impose indefinite house arrest on people who have never been charged, let alone convicted, and severely limit their contact with the outside world.

“This rides roughshod over the principle of ‘innocent until proven guilty’. What’s more, control orders fail to protect the public from individuals who may be genuinely dangerous.”

The Green Euro-MP continued: “I am also alarmed by the practice of using secret evidence in control order hearings and the extent to which this is spreading to other areas of our legal system. (3) This gradual undermining of civil liberties must be curbed before some of our most basic freedoms are lost.

“We should be focusing our efforts on proper criminal trials and custodial sentences for those found guilty if we are to genuinely protect society and stay true to our principles. The longer the control order regime remains, the more easily it becomes assimilated into the criminal justice system – without thorough scrutiny of the punishing restrictions imposed on those who fall victim to it.”