Off Topic Political Debate

The security lady seemed to think that huge amounts of intelligence was available, but that some countries didn't seem to realize just how important it could be to another country, and so didn't pass it on quickly enough. She wanted joined up intelligence across the whole of Europe.
Personally I see no problem in having suspects monitored, and rather doubt that it is not being already done. I see no objections being voiced to this in France, but wouldn't know what the attitude is in the UK. Maybe it is time for people to agree to beef up the existing structures simply to save lives. Even with that, some might live while others will not be so lucky.

 

I'm against all forms of surveillance, as it rarely is used solely to stop terrorists.

If we're going to try and save lives, surely capping all motor vehicles to speed limit levels should be more of a priority? Banning motorbikes? Banning fast-food? Banning knives? Technically stopping Global Warming should be top of the list, rather than letting government have access to every phone message, text or email that people send...

 

Just read an article in The Independent that is suggesting that the Belgian security and Police services are extremely badly organised, with lots of "Parish Councils" that have never worked effectively together. Likewise I gave no issues with better and closer monitoring and I have always been in favour of identity cards. I have nothing to hide.

 

I think that your article is correct, it gets reported in similar terms here. What is needed in my opinion is for countries to retain their own way of doing things, but to have others who will be directly affected by their actions request that systems are reviewed. This may result in more unified approaches, as is happening without regulation. Just how many police do you see in the UK now who are armed? Rather a lot judging by the news items and my rare visits . All of them have guns here, but that is something that has evolved over the years.

 

Umm, the Marches is the area of country dividing England from Wales. The thing called the English Channel would look lovely flowing from Wrexham to Newport though...

 

Not quite sure that Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, Herm, Brecqhou, Jetou, Lihou and the other smaller islands would all fit in that area.

 

Yes, but people have short memories Cologne and if he wants people to really hear his message he needs to get on the score-sheet. Does anyone remember the internal issues that Blair had when he was sweeping all before him and he EVEN had The Sun on his side!
I am absolutely no lover of State Socialism and most things the Comrade Corbyn stands for, but I do want a strong opposition - relying on Tory infighting is not reliable![/QUOTE]

Labour doing well in the ratings though... despite the media.....

 

The 'jokey' response was partly mine.... it was a joke and the reality is whatever we put in place we can never 100% stop such things happening.

The intel about how the terrorists use mobile phones in a way which avoids detection for example.

Sure we have to beef up our security ... no doubt about that. But do we want to live in a police state..... how far do we want to go ?

 

Agreed.......can we add the weapons trade to that list ? A country which exports weapons is not in the moral position to be taking a stand against terrorism - weapons, once sold, can be resold etc. until they arrive in the hands of someone who will use them without scruple.

 

That would be bad for 'trade' and 'growth' though, things that are much more important than the lives of people that live far away and we only see on the news...

 

Apologies, I did not read your comment fully, I thought you were still referring to the South & East coasts of England you mentioned in an earlier post. From my one visit to Newport I would say it would benefit from the Channel flowing through it as well!

 

You seem armed police at airports and occasionally at the large stations in London - more so after the events of yesterday, but not normally very often.
BBC reporter on 5-Live just discussed the Belgian security services and said currently it is where the UK versions were 11 years ago after the 7/7 bombings. The intelligence services were not sharing information with the Police or the Police counter terrorism services and their relationship with the local community is very poor as was the Police in London even up to the episode in Forest Gate in 2003. The recently captured man suspected of the Paris attacks has been hiding out in Brussels for 4 months and that community must have sheltered him. Clearly there are a lot of lessons to be learnt by the Belgian security services - particularly when you consider the institutions based there.

 

Exactly Yorkie - what freedom would you be prepared to give up to ensure Britain was safer? Would you be happy to carry an identity card? Where is your line?

 

You see armed Police every day in London, walking the streets, in stations/Tube stations, etc...

 

One of the problems regarding national intelligence in Europe is that some nations only give information if they receive some information in return, crazy.

Most of them would benefit from extra training from the more experienced UK intelligence service and security forces.

 

We've suffered more deaths/terrorist attacks here than in any other EU country

 

That is why we are the most experienced.

Don't worry flooding Europe with ISIS terrorists returning from Syria will enable mainland Europe to overtake our number of casualties.

 

How does it make us better than them? Being experienced doesn't automatically mean better?

 

There is no way a fugitive would be able to live a few streets away from his previous address for 4 months without detection in the UK. Abdeslam even had the confidence to walk the streets.

I would rather rely on the experienced UK's security forces than the inexperienced Belgians.

 

How do you know he was living there for 4 months?

It's easy to chat absolute **** on here without having to present any evidence