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| Leading terror trial QC to be counter-terror laws watchdog | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Max Hill QC, a leading prosecutor in many of the most serious terrorism trials, has been named the new independent reviewer of terrorism legislation. | Max Hill QC, a leading prosecutor in many of the most serious terrorism trials, has been named the new independent reviewer of terrorism legislation. |
| He will replace the human rights lawyer David Anderson QC, who marked his upcoming departure this weekend with a warning that the government’s anti-radicalisation strategy Prevent is faltering because it is not trusted by “a very large number of decent British Muslims”. | He will replace the human rights lawyer David Anderson QC, who marked his upcoming departure this weekend with a warning that the government’s anti-radicalisation strategy Prevent is faltering because it is not trusted by “a very large number of decent British Muslims”. |
| Hill, the head of Red Lion Chambers in London, has a background in prosecuting and defending in complex cases of terrorism, homicide, fraud and corporate crime. | Hill, the head of Red Lion Chambers in London, has a background in prosecuting and defending in complex cases of terrorism, homicide, fraud and corporate crime. |
| He prosecuted in the ricin conspiracy case and the trial of the 21 July 2005 bombers, and acted for the government in the case of Binyam Mohamed, who was awarded £1m compensation after alleging MI5 complicity in his interrogation under torture, and for the Metropolitan police in the 7 July 2005 attacks inquests. | |
| The home secretary, Amber Rudd, who appointed Hill, said with the threat from terrorism continuing to evolve and diversify, it was vital to have robust oversight to ensure counter-terrorism laws were fair, necessary and proportionate. “Mr Hill brings a wealth of experience and legal expertise to help deliver this,” she said. | The home secretary, Amber Rudd, who appointed Hill, said with the threat from terrorism continuing to evolve and diversify, it was vital to have robust oversight to ensure counter-terrorism laws were fair, necessary and proportionate. “Mr Hill brings a wealth of experience and legal expertise to help deliver this,” she said. |
| Hill, who takes over from Anderson on 1 March, said: “I am very pleased to have this opportunity, which comes at a time of heightened concern about the risk from terrorism that we all face in the UK. As a practising barrister with experience in counter-terrorism and the rights of citizens facing allegations of serious crime, I look forward to working with participants at all levels and from all sides.” | Hill, who takes over from Anderson on 1 March, said: “I am very pleased to have this opportunity, which comes at a time of heightened concern about the risk from terrorism that we all face in the UK. As a practising barrister with experience in counter-terrorism and the rights of citizens facing allegations of serious crime, I look forward to working with participants at all levels and from all sides.” |
| Anderson, who will step down from his post at the end of the month, told ITV’s Peston on Sunday the Prevent strategy was well intentioned, but needed significant reform to be successful. | |
| “It’s very frustrating for me. I don’t review Prevent, there is actually no independent reviewer of Prevent; I think there should be. But whenever I talk to Muslims and whenever I talk to MPs, Prevent is what they want to talk about,” he said. | “It’s very frustrating for me. I don’t review Prevent, there is actually no independent reviewer of Prevent; I think there should be. But whenever I talk to Muslims and whenever I talk to MPs, Prevent is what they want to talk about,” he said. |
| “It’s supposed to be the easy bit, it’s supposed to be about stopping all our young people being drawn into terrorism, but for one reason or another it is actually the most controversial bit, and the problem is that although there are admirable people doing the job on the ground locally, this is a programme that is simply not trusted by a very large number of decent British Muslims. | “It’s supposed to be the easy bit, it’s supposed to be about stopping all our young people being drawn into terrorism, but for one reason or another it is actually the most controversial bit, and the problem is that although there are admirable people doing the job on the ground locally, this is a programme that is simply not trusted by a very large number of decent British Muslims. |
| “I can only indicate directions of travel because I don’t review the programme, but I think one thing they need to do is do a much better job of explaining what they are doing, what the basis is for the interventions they are making, what the training materials say, what is their metric for success. I think they also have to do a better job, particularly nationally, of engaging with a wider range of Muslims.” | “I can only indicate directions of travel because I don’t review the programme, but I think one thing they need to do is do a much better job of explaining what they are doing, what the basis is for the interventions they are making, what the training materials say, what is their metric for success. I think they also have to do a better job, particularly nationally, of engaging with a wider range of Muslims.” |
| Anderson said the power of decision rested with the government, which is reviewing its counter-terrorism strategy, including Prevent. | Anderson said the power of decision rested with the government, which is reviewing its counter-terrorism strategy, including Prevent. |
| Red Lion Chambers said Hill would remain head and continue to maintain his “heavyweight criminal practice”. | Red Lion Chambers said Hill would remain head and continue to maintain his “heavyweight criminal practice”. |