New Clause 3 - Establishment of the Inspectorate of Data
Police and Justice Bill
10:15 am
Lynne Featherstone (Shadow Minister, Home Affairs; Hornsey and Wood Green, Liberal Democrat)
I totally agree with the hon. Gentleman. I am trying to allow that freedom and speed but to add a safeguard against what happened under section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000. It was not ill-intended, but the effect on communities was damaging. I am sure that the Government agree that we must be sensitive to our communities while not inhibiting the police’s ability to look, even if they are seeking patterns. There would be public concern if every domestic flight passenger list was fed into a computer and every name tracked.