‘When the Prevention of Terrorism Act 1974 was passed against a backdrop of an IRA bombing campaign in the mainland UK, it was limited in time for a year (although would be re-passed annually until made permanent), and was passed among a genuine concern that the powers it gave were too wide-reaching. Roy Jenkins, taking the Bill through the House of Commons as Home Secretary, said “The powers… are Draconian. In combination they are unprecedented in peacetime”. One wonders what he and other legislators from 40 years ago would make of our discussions today.’
Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 1st September 2014
Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk
