British PM pledges tough action on terrorism

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May delivers a speech during an election campaign visit to Langton Rugby Club in Stoke-on-Trent, June 6, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

LONDON -- British Prime Minister Theresa May announced get-tough proposals Tuesday night on tackling terrorism, saying she would change human rights laws if she needed to.

May outlined her proposals at an election rally in Slough on what was the penultimate day of canvassing in the British general election campaign.

With Britain still reeling from two attacks in London and one in Manchester, May seemed determined to show voters she will respond to the terror threat if she wins the election Thursday.

May said she would look at making it easier for Britain to deport foreign terror suspects.

But controversially, she also outlined increased controls on extremists who the security services think may present a threat to public safety, but where there is not enough evidence to prosecute them.

Following the London Bridge attack on Saturday, May said she aimed to get tough on terror with her "enough is enough" speech.

In Slough Tuesday she said her plans would mean longer prison sentences for people convicted of terrorist offences, and making it easier for the authorities to deport foreign terror suspects to their own countries.

May added: "And I mean doing more to restrict the freedom and the movements of terrorist suspects when we have enough evidence to know they present a threat, but not enough evidence to prosecute them in full in court. And if human rights laws stop us from doing it, we will change those laws so we can do it."

The Guardian newspaper commented Tuesday night that May's proposed measures appear to be an attempt at strengthening terrorism prevention and investigation measures rather than a complete return to control orders introduced by the last Labour government which were repeatedly struck down by judges in the British courts.

The Guardian said May's measures could involve further curfews, restrictions on association with other known extremists, controls on where they can travel and limits on access to communication devices.

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