Max Hill QC, newly appointed Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation, discusses the impact of counter terrorism legislation with Muslim communities, Leicester, 2nd May 2017
On the 2nd May 2017, UK Programme Manager, Jordan Morgan, facilitated the visit of Max Hill QC, the newly appointed Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation, and Hashi Mohamed, Mr Hill's Special Adviser, to meet influential Muslim community partners, with constituency, in Leicester.The Independent Reviewer’s role is to monitor UK counter- terrorism legislation for its fairness, effectiveness and proportionality. Key concepts within the Reviewer's role include: complete independence from Government; unrestricted access to classified documents and national security personnel; and a statutory obligation on Government to lay the Independent Reviewer’s reports before Parliament on receipt. The visit also allowed grassroots and community organizations outside of London to articulate the opportunities and challenges facing local people in light of the Westminster attack. Insights into how communities reacted and how government should prepare for future attacks and adapt the UK’s counter terrorism legislation and policy were discussed.It formed part of Forward Thinking’s extensive work over the last decade in facilitating visits between UK Muslim communities and grassroots organisations, and the ‘British Establishment’ (local government, parliamentarians, policymakers and the national media) from whom they feel alienated. Previous participants over the last 13 years have included Ruth Kelly, the former Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, John Reid, former British Home Secretary, former Independent Reviewer, David Anderson QC, in addition to over 400 civil servants.