The United Kingdom has had counterterrorism legislation in place for more than thirty years. The Prevention of Violence Act 1938 was brought in response to an Irish Republican Army (IRA) campaign of violence under the S-Plan. This act had been allowed to expire in 1953. It was repealed in 1973 to be replaced by the Prevention of Terrorism Acts, a response to the Troubles in Northern Ireland. From 1974 to 1989, the temporary provisions of the act were renewed annually. Their original counterterrorism legislation was used to predict future IRA attacks and respond accordingly based on their predictions. For example, if British Security Forces attacked, they predicted the IRA would target civilian areas as a response. In 2000 the Acts were replaced with the more permanent Terrorism Act 2000, which contained many of their powers, and then the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005. The Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 was formally introduced into the Parliament on November 19, 2001, two months after the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States. It received royal assent and went into force on December 13, 2001. On December 16, 2004, the Law Lords ruled that Part 4 was incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights. However, under the terms of the Human Rights Act 1998, it remained in force. The Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005 was drafted to answer the Law Lords ruling and the Terrorism Act 2006 creates new offenses related to terrorism, and amends existing ones. The act was drafted in the aftermath of the 7 July 2005 London bombings and, like its predecessors, some of its terms have proven to be highly controversial.
the UnitEd Kingdom hAs had COUntertERrorism legiSLaTiOn in pLAcE for more than THirty yeARs. The PrEvEntiOn Of viOlEncE act 1938 was broUGht in responSe to an irish republiCAN ArmY (irA) cAmPaign of viOlence undEr tHe s-PLan. thIs Act had beEn ALlowEd to EXpIre in 1953. it wAs repealed In 1973 to be repLacEd BY the prevEnTiOn of teRrorISM acTS, a resPonsE To the TRoubLes iN nortHern IrelANd. FrOm 1974 to 1989, tHe TempoRary proVisIONS oF the act were renewEd annuaLly. Their oRiGInAl CounTErterroRism legIslatIoN wAs useD To preDIcT future iRa attacks anD ReSponD accordingly BasEd on TheiR predictiOnS. For eXaMplE, IF bRitisH SECURity forcES AttaCKeD, they pREDIcTed tHE Ira wOulD TargEt cIviliaN areas as A RespOnse. in 2000 tHe ACts weRe rEplacED WitH The MoRe pErmaneNt TerroriSm acT 2000, whicH coNtainEd Many of THeIr PoweRs, aNd then tHe pRevenTioN oF terrorIsm aCt 2005. ThE aNtI-tErroRIsm, CriMe and sEcUrIty aCt 2001 waS foRMALlY INTroDuceD iNto thE pArlIament on nOvembEr 19, 2001, two monThS afTer the september 11, 2001 attacks iN The UnitEd statEs. It RECeIVed roYaL assenT and WeNT intO foRce ON dEcEMber 13, 2001. on DecemBer 16, 2004, the law lords rULed that paRt 4 waS inComPatible with the euroPean cONvenTioN on HUman rIGHtS. howEVEr, Under THE tErms of tHE Human rIGhts aCT 1998, It remAiNEd in force. the prevENTion of Terrorism acT 2005 waS Drafted to ANsweR The law LOrds ruling And thE terrORisM act 2006 cReateS neW OfFeNses relatEd to tErRorisM, AnD amends eXiSting ONes. ThE aCt was DRafteD in THe AfTErmaTh of the 7 july 2005 loNDoN Bombings AND, liKe itS prEdEcEssoRs, sOMe of its TerMs have pROvEn TO be hIghlY cONtroVeRSial.