We don't need new laws to prosecute those who glorify terror

Tony Blair's desire to prosecute those who glorify terror is well intentioned, but good intentions don't necessarily make good laws.

I'm all for cracking down on the hatemongers in our society, but what's the point of introducing new laws when we can't be bothered to enforce the existing ones? Abu Hamza could have been prosecuted six years ago had the authorities decided to act. And two weeks after public demonstrators in central London called for the beheading of those who insult Islam, the police have arrested no one.

The new law on glorifying terror bears all the hallmarks of gesture politics. The Government wants to demonstrate to an uneasy public that it has woken up to the threat, but the extremists will carry on as before. They know better than anyone that actions speak louder than words.