London - Powers which would allow the British police and security services to target environmental and political activists are to be included in a new Prevention of Terrorism Act, according to the Guardian newspaper.
The definition of terrorism is to be changed from using "violence for political ends" to one that includes threatening violence or intimidation for political, religious or ideological ends, the report says.
This could embrace environmentalist groups which have destroyed genetically-modified crops and religious groups which "incite" dissidents in other countries.
The report said it could also outlaw computer hacking and make it easier for security services to confiscate assets of people with suspected terrorist links.