Poll shows British would sacrifice civil liberties for increased security News
Poll shows British would sacrifice civil liberties for increased security

[JURIST] The results of a new poll suggest that British citizens are receptive to tough new anti-terror laws [JURIST report] detailed by UK Prime Minister Tony Blair [official bio] earlier this month. The poll, conducted by ICM for the Guardian newspaper, reveals that 73 percent of British respondents are willing to lose some civil liberties to improve security, with only 17 percent rejecting the trade-off. Sixty-two percent were in favor of deporting foreign nationals who spread extremist views [JURIST report], even if they were returned to countries where they may face torture. On the controversial police request to hold terror suspects for up to three months, rather than the current 14 days, 68 percent supported the longer term, while only 19 percent opposed it. The Guardian has more.