Emergency regulations
Headline: The government publishes a list of 104 emergency regulations for the defence of Great Britain.
The Government has taken on a range of extra powers today, with the publication of 104 Emergency Regulations. These follow the passing of the Emergency Powers Defence Act which became law last week. They give the Government the means of putting the country onto a war footing.
'... prevents people from spying or interfering with essential services.'
They are split up into several sections. The first deals with the security of the state and prevents people from spying or interfering with essential services. It also covers impersonating police officers, interfering with radio communications, carrying a camera in certain designated areas and the stricter control of homing pigeons.
The second section deals with public safety and will affect everyone by providing for the compulsory evacuation of people, animals and moveable property on the orders of the Secretary of State.
It also deals with the precautions to be taken in the event of an air attack, such as the use of shelters, the co-ordination of fire brigades and polices forces, and the control of lighting during the hours of darkness.
The third section gives the Admiralty control over merchant shipping and provision is also made for the control of aircraft.
Finally the regulations contain some very wide powers for the requisitioning of land and property, the control of industry as well as the control of rail and road traffic.
Although the list is a long one, it does not deal with issues such as the control of the press or of the organisation of manpower.
Published: 2001-09-01
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