Jump to content
IndiaDivine.org

Police Will Run Internet After Terrorist Attack- UK

Rate this topic


Guest guest

Recommended Posts

Guest guest

D

Thu, 28 Jul 2005 15:47:27 -0700 (PDT)

Police Will Run Internet After Terrorist Attack- UK

 

 

 

> wrote:

 

The plans are in the works for the UK. Is the US far behind?

Goodlord, I don't want to think what Americans would do!

 

The Sunday Times - Britain

 

June 15, 2003

 

Police will run internet after terrorist attack

David Leppard

 

 

WIDE-RANGING powers to enable the police to run the internet and

the rest of Britain's information superhighway in the event of a

terrorist attack will be unveiled this week.

 

The Civil Contingencies Bill will seek to modernise Britain's

response to national emergencies by protecting the country from

attacks on the infrastructure including the " electronic network " and

the water, electricity and telephone systems.

 

NI_MPU('middle');

Airlines, the transport network, town halls and the postal service

could also come under police direction in the event of a national

disaster.

 

The bill, to be unveiled by Douglas Alexander, a senior Cabinet

Office minister, this Thursday will give ministers powers to issue

orders to internet service providers and those utilities that rely on

the web.

 

It will also lay down new rules to ensure that all local

authorities have audited plans to deal with potential threats.

 

Senior officers will have powers to enlist any member of the

public to help civil defence staff. They will be able to commandeer

equipment and buildings, for which the owners will receive financial

compensation.

 

However, in a move designed to allay fears that the bill could

pave the way for regional police states, ministers have decided

against giving the police powers to run the BBC.

 

The police already have extensive authority to control some parts

of the national infrastructure and order rapid evacuation of large

areas, such as city centres.

 

But ministers say the existing 1920 Emergency Powers Act is out of

date. " The bill will recognise the new scale of threat by widening the

definition of what an emergency is, " said one Whitehall source. " We

are concerned that people might try to target the City or the

information network and the internet.

 

" A serious attack to stop information being circulated through the

internet and electronic highway was not envisaged by the original act.

The new bill will allow police to take on special legislative measures

to deal with the threat. "

 

A draft version of the bill proposes that ministers will be able

to invoke regional or local states of emergency with any situation

that " causes or may cause serious harm to the welfare of the public " .

 

These range from an accident involving motor traffic, flooding or

an environmental disaster to a biological, chemical or nuclear dirty

bomb attack.

 

Officials yesterday played down the suggestion that the bill would

give police draconian new powers but pointed out it would allow the

powers to be used in wider areas.

 

" The bill is about timely modernisation, about bringing things up

to the 21st century, " said one insider. " Computer networks, water,

electricity and gas utilities could all be targets and obviously that

has big knock-on effects.

 

" The more we get information online, the more people have

broadband, the more that hospitals and electricity generators rely on

the internet and electronic information. "

 

Firemen as well as police will be able to cordon off streets to

remove or contain people in the event of a major terrorist attack.

 

Those impeding a police officer or civil contingency force soldier

will face big fines or could be restrained by force.

 

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-714188,00.html

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...