This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/6329815.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Cleric airs 'police state' fears Cleric airs 'police state' fears
(about 8 hours later)
The Archbishop of York has warned that the government's anti-terror measures are in danger of moving Britain "close to a police state".The Archbishop of York has warned that the government's anti-terror measures are in danger of moving Britain "close to a police state".
Dr John Sentamu, who fled Uganda in the 1970s, criticised 90-day detention, and compared it to his home country under Idi Amin's dictatorial regime.Dr John Sentamu, who fled Uganda in the 1970s, criticised 90-day detention, and compared it to his home country under Idi Amin's dictatorial regime.
The archbishop said: "If you detain people, you must have good enough reason for detaining them."The archbishop said: "If you detain people, you must have good enough reason for detaining them."
His comments follow the arrest of suspected terrorists in Birmingham. The home secretary moved recently to extend custody limits for suspects.
Home Secretary John Reid recently made another attempt to extend the 28-day limit on holding terrorism suspects without charge. The limit is currently 28 days for those suspected of terrorism, but yet to be charged.
He told fellow ministers he wanted to try to find cross-party consensus on the controversial issue, at the request of police chiefs. John Reid told fellow ministers he wanted to try to find cross-party consensus on the controversial issue, at the request of police chiefs.
Government attempts to extend the limit to 90 days failed in 2005, opposed by Tories, Lib Dems and some Labour MPs.Government attempts to extend the limit to 90 days failed in 2005, opposed by Tories, Lib Dems and some Labour MPs.
Birmingham suspectsBirmingham suspects
In an interview with ITV's Evening News, Britain's second most senior cleric said: "[The home secretary] has not produced the evidence that shows that in 90 days you're capable of getting somebody prosecuted.In an interview with ITV's Evening News, Britain's second most senior cleric said: "[The home secretary] has not produced the evidence that shows that in 90 days you're capable of getting somebody prosecuted.
"Why does he want these days, so the police do what? Gather more evidence?"Why does he want these days, so the police do what? Gather more evidence?
"To me that becomes, if you're not very careful, very close to a police state in which they pick you up and then they say later on 'we'll find evidence against you'. That's what happened in Uganda with Idi Amin.""To me that becomes, if you're not very careful, very close to a police state in which they pick you up and then they say later on 'we'll find evidence against you'. That's what happened in Uganda with Idi Amin."
Meanwhile, West Midlands Police are continuing to question nine people arrested in Birmingham over an alleged plot to kidnap and murder a Muslim soldier.Meanwhile, West Midlands Police are continuing to question nine people arrested in Birmingham over an alleged plot to kidnap and murder a Muslim soldier.
The archbishop also urged people coming to live in the UK to adopt and "cherish" British values.The archbishop also urged people coming to live in the UK to adopt and "cherish" British values.
"If you are in Britain and you're British, you should really cherish the traditions that are here," he said."If you are in Britain and you're British, you should really cherish the traditions that are here," he said.
"If you don't actually subscribe to the things that make Britain, you're going to be in trouble.""If you don't actually subscribe to the things that make Britain, you're going to be in trouble."