Royal United Services Institute: National security and the courts

In a memorable phrase some years ago, the then Foreign Secretary, now Lord Hurd, spoke of this country “punching above its weight”. If one was to compile a list of factors which permit our country to punch above its weight, views might differ. The City, the arts, universities would be obvious candidates. But, any sensible list would, to my mind, include our armed forces, security and intelligence services, diplomatic service and our legal system. In all of these areas we stand tall in the world. Without security (and order) there can be no law as we know it; without our legal system, we would not have the society we value. Although some tensions between these institutions are unavoidable from time to time (on occasions perhaps even healthy), it is my theme that mutual understanding – without compromise to the needs of judicial independence, human rights or national security – should serve to reduce avoidable tensions, to the benefit of the country as a whole.