[me283]

I think too much has been made of this "looking like a Muslim" angle. It's obvious that the security forces aren't going to just run around detaining anyone with a beard; they will have a lot more information on their suspects than anyone here will ever know, and if they detain someone, they will have a damn good reason.

If a person known to overseas security services as having strong terrorist links, then in my opinion it is right to detain them. In fact, I would prefer that they were refused entry in the first place, but that's a different matter. However, whether it can be proven that they are going to commit a terrorist crime could be difficult. I guess it's down to how you rate the risk, and whether you are willing to take that risk. If they have even one reason to suspect a person (and remember, they aren't about to make those reasons public), then it is the only real option to detain them.

Now, I know this doesn't fit in with the thinking of our "PC brigade", but that's the reality; there ARE people who would destroy this country if they had the chance. Unfortunately they play their "game" by different rules, and don't give a damn about fairness. By suggesting that anyone who looks like a Muslim debases the hard work and fine results that come from the security services.

Of course, we could just sit back and wait for people to let the security services know of impending acts of terrorism, but I personally wouldn't have a great deal of faith in that.