Repressive act strenghtened
The repressive basis of British rule in Ireland is
further strenghtened with the Prevention of Terrorism
Act being made permanent and the Emergency Provisions
Act winning praise in a British government report.
British Home Secretary Douglas Hurd on Tuesday night,
February 16th, announced in the House of Commons that
the Prevention of Terrorism Act, which discriminates
against the Irish community in Britain, and Irish
people travelling to Britain, is to be made permanent
from March next year.
Hurd's comments follow the recommendations of former
Home Office Minister Lord Colville, who reviewed the
PTA last year and who recommended that the Act should
be made permanent rather than renewed annually.
Colville also said that the Emergency Provisions Act
was ``working to satisfaction and must remain''
In effect, the British Special Branch, who already had
arbitrary powers of arrest and detention since the PTA
was introduced by a British Labour Government in
November 1974, have now been given a green light to
further harass and victimise Irish people living in
Britain and those entering or leaving Britain at ports
and airports. Exclusion powers are also to be retained
in the act in spite of Colville's contrary
recommendation. (Colville also called for the outlawing
of loyalist paramilitaries but this too was rejected by
the British.)
Since 1974, a total of 245 people from the six counties
and 40 from the 26 counties have been excluded under
the PTA. Those excluded have no right to either appeal
the decision or to know why they have been excluded.
Phoblacht/Republician News, Thursday 8 February
1988
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