The Government’s terror watchdog today said introducing tough new laws to tackle hate preachers would be “quite wrong” despite a recent wave of attacks.
Max Hill QC said that the creation of new criminal offences, including banning orders and extremism disruption orders, backed by potential jail sentences, should not go ahead.
Both measures have been backed by Theresa May and were among “potential new criminal offences to defeat extremism” promised in her manifesto.
But Mr Hill, the Government’s independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, said the law should be targeted only at those who attempt to commit, or do carry out, acts of violence.
Last week, he suggested some returning British Islamic State fighters should be reintegrated into society, rather than prosecuted, as they were “naive”.
In quotes released ahead of a speech in London tonight to the human rights campaign group Justice, Mr Hill said: “We do not, and should not, criminalise thought without action or preparation for action.
“Whilst we can all agree that there should be nowhere for real terrorists to hide, we should also agree that legislating in the name of terrorism when the targeted activity is not actually terrorism would be quite wrong.”
There are widespread fears about the role played by extremist clerics in creating an anti-Western atmosphere, which inspires others to carry out attacks.
Among the most notorious is Anjem Choudary, who was jailed last year for inviting support for IS after 10 failed attempts to bring him to justice.
His supporters have included London Bridge attacker Khuram Butt and Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale, who murdered Fusilier Lee Rigby in 2013….
