UNDER ORDERS

The government has mounted a legal battle in the House of Lords to protect control orders. The law lords have been asked to consider the legality of the orders, which were introduced under the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005 and allow a suspect’s freedom to be curtailed although they have not been charged or tried in open court. Seven of the 17 suspects on control orders have absconded and Liberty has called the control order scheme “unsafe” and “unfair”. It suggests instead allowing the use of intercept evidence in the criminal courts and allowing post-charge questioning.