Author Archives: Giolla

Very exceptional circumstances

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Recently a Home Office spokesman said that the new provisions in the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008 would only be used in “very exceptional circumstances“, which has of course been claimed before for various bits of legislation that have subsequently, and to little surprise, been used in very unexceptional circumstances. However this does reinforce the idea that this (and probably most any other) government are quite happy to bring in legislation to deal with “exceptional circumstances” before such circumstances arise. Then there’s the continual attempts to bring in 42 day detention with out trial, just in case it’s needed at some indeterminate … Continue reading →

Photographers not terrorists

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Well it seems todays “media event” went swimmingly. Sadly I couldn’t make it but a friend did, so photo’s here. Apparently you’ll be glad to hear that we’re all very silly as this wonderful new law will only ever be used in “very exceptional circumstances“. Past experience doesn’t tend to support this, but at least when it is used we’ll all have nice shiny new benchmarks as to what “very exceptional circumstances” actually are. In the meantime even the Metropolitan Police Federation think this law is a bad idea. Other reports and responses to this new law and the media … Continue reading →

A day of fun and photography

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Whilst I’d be very surprised if anyone reading this isn’t already aware of it, this Monday the 16th of February it will become illegal to elicit or attempt to elicit information about the armed forces, security forces or constabulary that is useful or likely to be useful to people committing or preparing an act of terrorism. Counter-Terrorism Act 2008. Given the horrendously broad scope this wording allows and the well documented dislike our police force have for people taking their photo’s or in fact any photo’s at all (whilst being increasingly keen on taking ours), this had been widely interpreted … Continue reading →