For more than a century London has been a safe haven for political activists seeking to overthrow the regimes in power in their home countries. Revolutionaries have gravitated to Britain, and London in particular, because it offers a lax legal framework and easily assimilates foreigners. Some of these groups have been welcomed as democrats or liberators: most of them are now an embarrassment for a government that is helping to lead the global campaign against terror.
Not only do many organisations operate with impunity, but some of them receive official protection. One of the tasks of the Special Branch is not only to monitor the activities of potentially dangerous militants, but also to offer protection to the staff of groups that have received threats or are considered to be potential targets of attack. Thus the PLO representative in London has always been accompanied by an armed personal protection officer from the Metropolitan Police Special Branch.
In comparison to the police forces of other European countries, the 43 uncoordinated forces in England possess very limited powers. Moreover, public and commercial life is far less bureaucratic and legalistic than in most of continental Europe. People can drive cars without any photo identity cards; property can be purchased by nominees, third parties, partnerships and limited companies; bank accounts can be opened with the minimum of formalities and fund-raising is almost completely unregulated; publications are uncontrolled and customs checks at frontiers are minimal.
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