UM, are you implying that the IRA weren't terrorists?
I suspect he is saying that the police claim to need a "special" law in order to fight terrorists or some other particular crime and, having got it, they cheerfully use their new power for any and everything they can.
A bit like the extradition agreement (treaty) with the Yanks that was all about fighting terrorism and has so far been used against three bankers for something that wasn't even considered an offence in the UK and several others of a similar nature. I have yet to hear of anyone being extradited on terrorist charges.