TouristTrap

What do y'all think about Britain's own 'version' of the Patriot Act?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/terrorism/...590985,00.html

The entire page is filled with links on the subject. Seems that the UK judiciary are NOT happy campers about it.

Who will win then? Tony or the wigs?

Angry White Pyjamas

Tony.

scrubbedexpat099

So should law making be part of the (elected) Parlimentary process, or the (unelected) Judicial process.

Nobody seems interested in the Human Rights of the victims.

De Carabas

That might be due to the fact that the victims have ALREADY been victimised, no? Their rights have already been infringed upon, and the people responsible are/can/should be held accountable for that.

But why does that mean that the rights of EVERYONE should therefor suffer? Draconian laws do not stop terrorists....NO laws stop a terrorist. Hell, Israel has been draconianing it up for 30 years, but Hamas still manage to blow the crap out of downtown buses.

Angry White Pyjamas

Actually In the UK its both. We have no written constitution and our laws are constructed from bills passed in the elected house of commons and also by common law and precedence based upon decisions made by members of the judiciary when trialling cases.

scrubbedexpat099

And the Lords.

My reference is to where specific laws are enacted by representaives of the people but the Judges seek to change them. Seems more and more common.

Angry White Pyjamas

Its always been the case. Every time a new law is introduced by an act of parliament that law is then open to interpretation and consolidation by trial. Thats why we have test cases and precedents. Its how British law is and always has been built.

scrubbedexpat099

Not now, European Law has precedence.

Angry White Pyjamas

Thanks to the European Communites act 1972.

However in practice only a very few cases have occured where EU law has overruled domestic law. And even so you are still bound by domestic law and precedents. It hasnt changed how our domestic laws are formed.