The anti-terrorism laws provide additional layers of secrecy which make it much harder to detect when police or politicians have fabricated evidence or otherwise acted improperly. As I say, this automatically puts defendants in a weaker position, which may in turn require a more complex, vigorous and therefore expensive defence.

I find it worrying that those pushing “we must get tough” lines seem to be unaware of this or, if they are, reckon that our “strong traditions of fairness and democracy” will somehow magically protect us. History, even recent history, continues to show this is not the case, and has never been the case.

Perhaps he needs to walk past a court and see that statue that is out the front. Justice is shown as blind for a reason, not because it suits a political agenda.

This attitude was what caused the problems Dr Haneef, the govt did not get enough egg on its face when the case fell apart.