In an article today in the Guardian, it quotes the latest report by the National Centre for Social Research. also known as NatCen, called British Social Attitudes: the 23rd Report – Perspectives on a changing society,  that was published today.

The Guardian begins its article with

An overwhelming majority of people in Britain are willing to surrender civil liberties to help tackle the threat of terrorism, and  

The survey found seven in every 10 people think compulsory identity cards for all adults would be "a price worth paying" to reduce the threat of terrorism. Eight in 10 say the authorities should be able to tap the phones of people suspected of involvement in terrorism, open their mail and impose electronic tagging or home curfews.

This is NOT what the report said, and the Guardian comments have been taken out of context.

The Report, which failed to publish in its press release the questions that were asked, concluded that

Neither fear of terrorism nor the 7 July 2005 suicide bombings in London influenced public views on banning peaceful protests; denying the right to a trial by jury to people charged with a terrorist related crime; or following terror suspects, tapping their phones and opening their mail.

But the more fearful people are about terrorism, the more likely they are to be prepared to give up the following freedoms:

• When it comes to allowing the police to detain terror suspects for more than a week or so without charge, 34% of those who are least fearful about terrorism think it is unacceptable, compared to only 12% of those who are most fearful about terrorism.

• Twice as many of the least fearful about terrorism think that compulsory identity cards are unacceptable (41%) than the most fearful (21%).

Which is why the government is spending so much time, money and effort to keep the population scared.

This is propaganda in its most unacceptable form, a corruption of the truth, and shame on the Guardian for being a part of it.