On Tuesday, the Commercial Secretary to the Treasury issued a 12-page report (of which there was really only one page of content!) responding to the Independent Reviewer's 3rd annual report on the operaiton of TAFA (Terrorist Asset-Freezing etc. Act 2010).
Here's the meat of the report, which responds to the two new recommendations:
High-level consideration should be given to the practical role that TAFA 2010 may
realistically be expected to play in the fight against terrorism, on its own or in conjunction
with other financial and non-financial measures.
1.1 The Government recognises the importance of making the most appropriate and effective
use of all available tools and powers to combat terrorism. Senior-level interdepartmental
discussions continue to take place on the best use of HMG’s terrorist asset freezing powers and
the way that those powers can be used to best effect. We will continue those discussions during
the course of the next year, aiming to ensure that our terrorist asset freezing powers continue to
be used and administered in an effective and proportionate way to help protect the public from
the threat of terrorism.
Mechanisms should be put in place to ensure that designation under TAFA 2010 is
considered in all cases where it could be beneficial. In particular, and subject to the
conclusions under Recommendation 11, the possibility of designation should be routinely
considered in cases where TPIMs and proscription are being contemplated, when suspected
terrorists are arrested or charged and in cases where deportations, deprivations of citizenship
or passport removal are contemplated on national security grounds.
1.2 The Government agrees that TAFA designations should be considered in all cases where they
may be beneficial. The Treasury is advised by law enforcement and security agencies of the
individuals and entities against whom TAFA designation might be appropriate. Those agencies
are best placed to decide and advise on the most appropriate mechanisms to disrupt terrorist
activity by a person or entity. Law enforcement and security agencies already have processes in
place to consider the various options to disrupt terrorist-related activity. However, the Treasury
will continue to work closely with partner agencies to raise the awareness of asset freezing, its
effects and requirements for designation with partner agencies to aid their consideration of the
appropriate disruptive tools to use.
Link:
Response to Independent Reviewer Report