Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Bill — Terrorist certification by Home Secretary — 21 Nov 2001 at 20:31

The majority of MPs voted in favour of a scheme whereby the Home Secretary could issue a certificate against a person whose presence in the United Kingdom he reasonably believes is a risk to national security, and whom he reasonably suspects is a terrorist.^[1]

A "terrorist" is defined as someone who is or was concerned in the preparation or instigation of acts of international terrorism, or has links to an international terrorist group.^[1]

A late government amendment had inserted the word "reasonably" into the above sentence.^[2]

A later vote established the powers of indefinite detention against someone who is subject to such a certificate.^[3]

Only subsections (1)-(5) and (7) of clause 21 appeared in this version of the Bill at this stage.^[4]

• [1] Suspected international terrorist: certification, Clause 21, Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act, 2001
• [2] David Blunkett MP, House of Commons, 21 November 2001.
• [3] Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Bill - Indefinite detention of certified terrorists, House of Commons, 21 November 2001
• [4] Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Bill, Bill 49, 2001.

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