UK terror squad arrest over model rocket in luggage

[Newsbot]

The first person jailed under draconian UK police powers that Ministers said were vital to battle terrorism and serious crime has been identified by The Register as a schizophrenic science hobbyist with no previous criminal record. His crime was a persistent refusal to give counter-terrorism police the keys to decrypt his computer files. The 33-year-old man, originally from London, is currently held at a secure mental health unit after being sectioned while serving his sentence at Winchester Prison. In June the man, JFL, who spoke on condition we do not publish his full name, was sentenced to nine months imprisonment under Part III of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA). The powers came into force at the beginning of October 2007.

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[tquigg]

If I didn't know any better, I'd say I was reading a chapter out of Orwell's book "1984". Wow!

 

[MysticalRockets]

This really has nothing to do with rocketry, as he wasn't arrested for the rocket in his luggage.

This is really all about someone who needs serious psych help.

 

[dedleytedley]

This really has nothing to do with rocketry, as he wasn't arrested for the rocket in his luggage.

This is really all about someone who needs serious psych help.

You may be right about his state of mind but I recall that it was common for the Soviets to label people as insane BECAUSE they resisted tyranny. From this side of the pond Britain seems like the worst kind of police state, one that masquerades as a free and fair country. Ted

 

[MysticalRockets]

You may be right about his state of mind but I recall that it was common for the Soviets to label people as insane BECAUSE they resisted tyranny. From this side of the pond Britain seems like the worst kind of police state, one that masquerades as a free and fair country. Ted

The guy missed a number of bail hearings. Over on this side of the pond, miss one and you're in jail for at least 90 days.

 

[shrox]

I watched the "Cops" type shows while I was in England. I would say English police are much more civil and much less suspicious of their citizens. Most police there don't carry guns...

 

[powderburner]

The guy might be crazy for N number of other reasons, but it they put him in jail for refusing to unlock his computer I think I would be right in there with him if they asked me to open mine.

 

[cls]

UK is on my list of places to never visit again.

 

[WiK]

Yeah, this was pretty bad. From reading the article in The Register (not exactly famous for its accurate reporting, fwiw) it seems like they were determined to get this guy on something, and the encryption thing was the one that stuck.

Though I have to wonder, what's on his computer that he's so desperate for the police not to see?

Of course this all comes under anti-terrorism, but let's not get started on that.

Phil (who will probably emigrate)