Ban on legal aid for terrorists ‘could backfire’

A NEW law to stop terrorists claiming legal aid risks “unintended consequences” and could increase the danger of them carrying out a new attack, the Government’s terror watchdog has warned Parliament. Jonathan Hall QC said that clauses in the new National Security Bill bringing in a 30-year ban on terror convicts claiming civil legal aid were intended to be “symbolic”. But he warned that it could backfire by stopping them from getting help and undermining the chances of them reintegrating successfully back into society after release. “A homeless terrorist offender, or one whose mental health needs are unaddressed, will present a higher risk to the public. There is a risk of unintended consequences,” Mr Hall warns in a briefing note.