Terrorism
The Church of England through its General Synod has debated and voted on Detention without Charge and debated a report 'Facing the Challenge of Terrorism' following the London bombings in 2005.
Detention
without Charge (GS1681)
February 2008 the Synod debated a motion that
raised three issues about the balancing of the demand for security
from terrorist attack with the protection of civil rights and
liberties. They were the proposed extension of the 28-day limit in
pre-charge detention, the use of control orders and issues raised
by the Guantanamo Bay detention camp.
October 2007, the Mission & Public Affairs Council submitted a response to the Home Office paper on 'Options for pre-charge detention in terrorist cases.' A copy Read the press release
Facing the
Challenge of Terrorism (GS1595)
This debate in November 2005 gave the Synod the
opportunity of reflecting on the events in London of 7 July and the
Government's response to them.
Reports in the press were misleading when they claimed that the Church 'supported the police's shoot-to-kill policy', said the Bishop of Southwark, who introduced the debate. Instead, the report recognised that an effective counter-terrorism strategy could include lethal force as a last resort, but that any such response must be based on reliable intelligence. The motion that was carried unanimously urged political parties to heed the warnings from history over the progressive erosion of fundamental rights when considering new legislation. It concluded with a call to members of the Church of England to promote greater understanding, reconciliation and respect within their local communities, especially where there are significant numbers from other faith traditions.
