Theresa May Backs 'Snooper's Charter' Powers

Theresa May has said it is "essential" that intelligence agencies have greater access to communications data following the murder of off-duty soldier Lee Rigby in Woolwich.

The Home Secretary said law enforcement agencies must be given the "tools they need" to track down terrorists before they can launch attacks.

She also warned that "thousands" of people in Britain are potentially at risk of being radicalised by extremists.

Mrs May's comments will reignite debate over the so-called snooper's charter, which was dropped from the Queen's Speech earlier this month.

Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, she said: "I've always been clear that access to communications data is essential for the law enforcement agencies and intelligence agencies.

"There is a reducing capability in relation to access to communications data and as far as I'm concerned I think this is a very important thing we need to ensure we are giving our law enforcement agencies and intelligence agencies access to the tools that they need to fight crime, paedophiles and terrorists."

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg vetoed the inclusion of the controversial Communications Data Bill in the Queen's Speech on the grounds that it was disproportionate and an invasion of privacy.

Plans in a draft bill published last year would have given agencies including the police and intelligence services access to information including individuals' web browsing history and social media messages.

Mrs May said that while "thousands" of people are at risk of radicalisation, they are "at different points on what could be a path to violent extremism".

She said a taskforce launched by Prime Minister David Cameron would look at whether new powers are needed to tackle radicalisation.

Former Labour Home Secretary Alan Johnson said he backed Mrs May's plan for greater communications monitoring and that she should consider resigning if she does not get support from the Cabinet.

He told the same programme: "We need to get this on the statute book before the next general election and I think it is absolutely crucial.

"Indeed I think it is a resignation issue for a Home Secretary if the Cabinet do not support her in this central part of what the security services do."

Former Met Police counter-terrorism chief Peter Clarke told Sky News' Murnaghan programme that he backed the introduction of new monitoring legislation "as quickly as possible".

He said: "I fully subscribe to the views expressed by some very eminent people ... that the bill be looked at and as quickly as possible.

"The intelligence agencies and police should be given the opportunity to keep up with modern technology, which is all this bill is about."

Lib Dem peer Lord Carlile - a former independent reviewer of terrorism legislation - said his party was wrong to block new legislation on the issue.

He told Dermot Murnaghan: "All the bill tried to do was to update what is already being done day-by-day and throughout Europe."

The Home Secretary also revealed that 500 officers are now working on the murder inquiry sparked by the murder of Drummer Rigby in south London.

She said counter-terrorism officers had been drafted in from other units around the country to help with the investigation.