LONDON - Fears of a fresh bomb attack on British soil appear to have stifled opposition to a raft of new anti-terrorism proposals and police practices which legal experts say would erode civil rights.
Since last month's deadly attacks in London, police have said they have a "shoot to kill" policy for suspected suicide bombers and are taking into account ethnic backgrounds when deciding who to stop and search.
As it drafts new laws, Tony Blair's centre-left government is even listening to a call to hold terrorism suspects without charge for up to three months instead of 14 days -- a move that would have had campaigners up in arms a few months ago.
Yet few people are complaining in Britain, where -- in contrast to other European countries -- individuals are not yet required to carry identity cards, phone tap evidence is not allowed in court and it is hard to deport radical preachers.
As the government struggles to balance national security with human rights, left-wing politicians and civil liberties campaigners alike are keeping a low profile.
"In the aftermath of what London has gone through, rights groups are taking a step back," said Julia Hall of Human Rights Watch. "They have to readjust to the new climate."
The normally vocal lobby group Liberty says the attacks have made its job harder. It has given what it describes as a "measured and proportioned response" to government plans.
But that does not mean campaigners are happy with the new proposals.
Corrosive Effect
The measures may not be as harsh as those introduced in the 1970s to combat Irish Republican Army guerrillas, say experts. But they do represent a steady erosion of rights.
"It is unclear whether in themselves the new measures will present any enormous (violations), but they are consistent with a trend of corrosion of civil liberties here," said Sonya Sceats, international law expert at think-tank Chatham House.
Some lawyers say even existing anti-terrorism laws breach European standards and could force London to opt out of parts of the European Convention on Human Rights.
The new plans go further still and are beyond anything Spain brought in after last year's Madrid train bombings, they say.
Most controversial is a demand from police chiefs to extend the time they can hold terrorism suspects without charge to three months, a plan Sceats calls "desperately alarming".
Experts say a three month period would be draconian compared to other countries such as Italy whose cabinet has just agreed to extend theirs to 24 hours.
The government has already had to back down from a policy of detaining foreign suspects without trial after it was ruled illegal last year by Britain's highest court.
The judgment has led to less invasive -- but still contested -- measures, including control orders which restrict suspects' freedom of movement.
The government also wants to create new offences covering "acts preparatory to terrorism", including financing or aiding attacks, receiving terrorism training and the glorifying or condoning of terrorism.
In a spirit of solidarity after the bombings the main opposition parties are backing the plans, but experts are worried about freedom of speech infringements.
Transport police have also worried some Muslims by saying officers will consider race when deciding who to stop to search.
Muslim groups, among the most outspoken campaigners in the last month, have condemned such practices.
"It is not the time to give into the politics of fear," said Massoud Shadjareh of the Islamic Human Rights Commission.
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