Letter: Knowledge is a dangerous thing

Letter: I enjoyed Paul Pascoe's letter (Shropshire Star, February 4) for it is a fine example of how a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing. I think most people would agree with Paul that the European Convention on Human Rights would appear to be a good thing.

Those of us with a little more information will know that Magna Carta and the 1689 Bill of Rights gave the British citizen far more protection.

The Human Rights Act was a good idea but it has become an absolute disaster as far as decent, honest people are concerned. However it is a boon for lawyers, terrorists and the rest of those who profit from crime. The mega flaw is that it does not include human responsibilities and couple them with the human rights of criminals. Victims of crime are usually ignored.

When Gordon Brown sneaked away and signed the Lisbon Treaty he signed away a lot of our legal protection.

Already there are victims of the European Arrest Warrant being whisked off to foreign countries, on flimsy or no evidence, where they can detain you for an unlimited time. The foreigners do not have to prove you guilty for under the EU's "Corpu Juris" system you have to prove you are innocent.

Our magistrates and jury systems will now vanish and professional judges,with a political agenda and wealthy cronies to support, will investigate, judge and sentence you. If you are aware of all the people held in continental jails for months and years without being charged of any crime you would not be singing the praises of the European Convention on Human Rights.

You have fewer human rights now than you had before the convention was signed.

Denis Allen

Wellington