Anti-terrorism in the UK: Your opinion Summary : This activity comprises three exercises (Activities 3, 4 and 5). The first requires students to try to think about how those in power can justify the suspension of human rights. For the second students will decide what measures they would put in place to protect the UK from a terrorist attack if they were Prime Minister. The final exercise guides them to an opinion of the current anti-terrorism legislation. Learning Objective : To consider the way in which societies respond to threats and whether it is sometimes justifiable to compromise the rights of individuals for the good of society at large. Key Words : Perceived threat, appropriate response, minority, majority, suspension of rights, terrorism, suspect, detain, human rights Key Questions : How could Danforth and the other prosecutors in the Salem trials justify their actions? Is it ever right to suspend individual rights to protect the majority? What measures should be put in place to protect people from the threat of terrorism? What do you think of current anti-terrorist measures? National Curriculum Links : KS4 Citizenship Programme of Study: 1a, 2b, 2c, 3a Activity: Anti-terrorism in the UK: Your Opinion Introduction : This activity requires students to compare their answers from Activity 4 to the actual measures in the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005. Students are then asked to reflect upon the similarities and differences between their answers and the terms of the Act. Finally, students are asked to express and justify an opinion on whether or not the current anti-terrorist measures are justified. Instructions In this activity you are going to give your opinion on whether the anti-terrorism legislation is a justifiable reaction to the threat of terrorism. To do this compare your answers above to the measures put in place by the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005 using the table (see attachment below). Now answer the following questions: 1. Which of your measures were the same as those in the Act? ____________________________________________________ 2. Which of your measures were different? ____________________________________________________ 3. In general, did you react more or less strongly to the threat? Why was this? ____________________________________________________ 4. Finish the following sentence: I think that the treatment of terrorist suspects in this country is justified/unjustified (delete one) because: ____________________________________________________ | 
