Boris

This guilty till proved innocent is an alarming state of affairs. The taxman is doing the same thing.

 

You're right. You can't change a fundamental principle just because the administration on taking a decision takes to long. You need to concentrate on improving the justice/tax systems so the right decision is made in good time to act upon the decision.

 

Seems a sensible policy in response to a no-win situation, to be honest.

Having to notify an official body of your intent to travel to Iraq/Syria in advance isn't a massive undertaking, by any means. The concept of stringent exit visas has clearly been abused historically (USSR and Nazi Germany come to mind), but given that most normal people aren't taking a holiday in Syria and Iraq right now I can't see that it would be a massive issue to put a sane registration body into place as a precaution.