# Government's attitude to the threat of terrorist abuse of charities is €˜draconian', says report

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2007/01/25/government039s-attitude-threat-terrorist-abuse-charities-e%cb%9cdraconian039-says-report/
- Published: 2007-01-25T00:00:00+00:00
- Author: Howard Lake

A new report published by an NCVO-led advisory group has criticised the Government’s
approach to the threat of terrorist abuse of charities, claiming it is ineffective,
counter-productive and ‘draconian’.
The report says there is no doubt that there
is a legitimate terrorist threat, but thinks the Government’s approach is not in
touch with the ‘real work’ of charities, which could help turn people away from 
terrorism.

The advisory group, set up by NCVO and chaired by Lord Plant of Highfield was specifically
tasked with looking at the impact of terrorism and counter-terrorism regulation 
and legislation on charities and voluntary organisations in the UK. The report is
being published in the hopes of influencing a review conducted by the Home Office
and HM Treasury into the same issues which is due to report in early February.

It focuses on three areas: the impact of the Government’s approach to terrorism 
and charities; the existing regulation of charities; and legal opinion on the implications
of the UK’s anti-terrorist finance regime on charities and other non-profit organisations.

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The report says the Government’s approach is ‘draconian’ and could restrict charities’
ability to operate without dealing with the problem. It says that government’s response
shows no understanding of charities’ experiences and is not based on evidence of
activity within charities. It accuses the Government of producing the report unilaterally,
without proper consultation with charities.

It warns that this ‘heavy-handed approach’ could drive voluntary organisations underground
and says the Government should be working to engage charities rather than alienate
them.

It suggests that Government should pay more heed to the role of charities in turning
people away from ‘destructive paths’ such as terrorism and that it should promote
charity-led counter-terrorism initiatives.

NCFO chief executive Stuart Etherington said: Government needs to work in partnership
with us in order to determine what evidence exists of the terrorist abuse of charities,
and to recognise the positive power that we have as a sector to reach out to people
and turn them away from destructive paths.

The report, ‘Security and Civil Society – the impact of counter-terrorism measures
on civil society organisations’, can be viewed at NCVO’s website.

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