British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Tuesday called for modern crime-fighting measures to safeguard individual freedom and liberty.
In a speech at the Institute for Public Policy Research, a think tank, Brown defended the use of CCTV (closed circuit television), DNA databases, ID cards and the extension of pre-charge detention, saying such measures are enhancing individual rights.
The challenge for the government and for society as a whole is to "achieve a settlement that ensures both our tradition of liberty and our need for security," he said.
The modern security challenge is defined by new and unprecedented threats -- terrorism, global organized crime, organized drug trafficking and people trafficking, Brown pointed out.
He cited police data suggesting the existence of at least 2,000known terrorist suspects and 200 organized terror networks.
Investment in counter-terrorism has risen from 1 billion pounds(2 billion U.S. dollars) in 2001 to 3.5 billion pounds (7 billion dollars) in 2011.
Making use of 21st Century technology in fighting terrorism and other crimes is the right decision, the British prime minister said.
"New challenges require new means of addressing them. But at all times the enduring responsibility remains the same - both protecting the security of all and safeguarding the individual's right to be free," said Brown.
The British government will soon receive a report with recommendations for improving the Criminal Justice System and matters such as community policing.
Source:Xinhua
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