UK Security chiefs review risk of a "Paris-Style" attack in the UK - Polidicks

[QUOTE]Prime Minister David Cameron and security chiefs have reviewed the risk of a Paris-style attack in the UK. They agreed that elements of the Paris attacks should be considered when planning future training exercises for the police and security services. There will also be heightened security to ensure activists cannot bring weapons into the UK. The UK terror threat level remains unchanged at "severe", meaning an attack is highly likely.[/QUOTE] One part of this seemed a bit iffy: [QUOTE]Mr Cameron has also vowed to give the security services more powers to monitor online and telephone conversations between terror suspects.[/QUOTE] BBC: [url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-30772035[/url]

GCHQ can literally look at anything they want in terms of telecoms. How can they have [I]more[/I] powers other than dedicating more money to hire more people?

[quote]The UK terror threat level remains unchanged at "severe", meaning an attack is highly likely.[/quote] Hasn't it been at this level for quite some time though?

[QUOTE=Jamsponge;46911068]GCHQ can literally look at anything they want in terms of telecoms. How can they have [I]more[/I] powers other than dedicating more money to hire more people?[/QUOTE] They have the ability but not the authorisation.

I can imagine the online monitoring extending to Facepunch. A few of the more....vocal people on SH might end up on their payroll.

[QUOTE=Cabbage;46911083]Hasn't it been at this level for quite some time though?[/QUOTE] No, only for a couple of months.

[QUOTE=Cabbage;46911083]Hasn't it been at this level for quite some time though?[/QUOTE] You may be thinking of the response level, which is directly related to the threat level. It has remained at 'Heightened' since 2001 as far as I know, because it was at 'substantial', now elevated to 'severe', and both of those hold the response level at 'heightened', mainly because the next level down is next-to-no response. Honestly, though, I'm not sure how the 'response' level works.

An open, multicultural society doesn't come without its costs.

They always want more powers they won't be happy until they shove an ethernet cable up my arsehole so to monitor terrorism

It went to severe in November

To be honest, as long as they have to pursue a warrant (as the police do when they're suspicious of somebody harbouring something in their house), I don't have an issue with it. I just don't like absolute blanket surveillance.

[QUOTE=~Kiwi~v2;46911095]I don't think there is an issue. If they think they can protect the UK better if they had more power to online and telephone conversations between terrorist suspects I think that's OK. I don't think that would be a problem for anyone unless you're legitimately planning to go allah. They'll also be looking out for keywords that daily citizens won't use so this doesn't affect anyone in a bad way. This is a good move. [editline]13th January 2015[/editline] This.[/QUOTE] When America did this exact thing people went god damned crazy.