The British Prime Minister, Mr Blair, said the changes proposed by his government were of a "draconian and fundamental nature". The changes mirror those proposed in the Republic. Changes relating to rules of evidence to apply to groups specifically designated.
The law will be changed to allow someone to be convicted of belonging to a proscribed organisation, with a maximum penalty of 10 years' imprisonment, on the evidence of a senior police officer.
Refusal by a suspect to mention something later relied on as defence, or refusal to answer any relevant question during interrogation or later, or a refusal to co-operate with any relevant inquiry, will be regarded as corroboration of the police officer's evidence, and seen as an inference of guilt.
The government intends to use the Bill to make it, for the first time, a specific offence in the UK to conspire to commit terrorist offences outside the UK.
Other proposals on the admissibility of evidence are still under discussion and may be included in the legislation.