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Terror detention to be reviewed Terror detention to be reviewed
(about 5 hours later)
Home Secretary John Reid has outlined a raft of proposals to toughen counter terror laws - including reviewing the 28-day limit on pre-charge detention. Home Secretary John Reid has outlined proposals to toughen counter terror laws - including reviewing the 28-day limit on pre-charge detention.
He said he wanted cross-party agreement on the measures, which also include a law change to allow terrorist suspects to be questioned after being charged.He said he wanted cross-party agreement on the measures, which also include a law change to allow terrorist suspects to be questioned after being charged.
Plans also include a sex offender-style terrorist register, and a review into courts using intercept evidence.Plans also include a sex offender-style terrorist register, and a review into courts using intercept evidence.
But MPs were told "stop and question" powers were not among current plans.But MPs were told "stop and question" powers were not among current plans.
The measures are in a three-page consultation document rather than a draft bill because Mr Reid said he wanted to get cross-party support before announcing more concrete measures in a counter-terrorism bill later this year. The measures are in a consultation document rather than a draft bill as Mr Reid has said he wants cross-party support before announcing more concrete measures in a counter-terrorism bill later this year.
ANTI-TERROR PROPOSALS Detention without charge beyond 28 daysQuestioning after chargeAllowing intercept information in courtRegister of convicted terroristsEntry and search powers for police to enforce control ordersIncreased security at key gas sitesSet out in law data sharing powers for intelligence and security agencesSeizure of terrorist's assets (currently only seized if a person is convicted of terrorist finance offence) Q&A: Anti-terror legislation Analysis: Brown's challenge Change in tone over terror ANTI-TERROR PROPOSALS Detention without charge beyond 28 daysQuestioning after chargeAllowing intercept information in courtRegister of convicted terroristsEntry and search powers for police to enforce control ordersIncreased security at key gas sitesSet out in law data sharing powers for intelligence and security agenciesSeizure of terrorist's assets (currently only seized if a person is convicted of terrorist finance offence) Q&A: Anti-terror legislation Analysis: Brown's challenge Change in tone over terror
He said he personally believed, as did Prime Minister Tony Blair and the next prime minister Gordon Brown, that 28-day detention in terrorist cases was not enough. He said he, Prime Minister Tony Blair and the next prime minister Gordon Brown all believed that 28-day detention in terrorist cases was not enough.
He did not say whether there would be a fresh attempt to extend the limit as far as 90 days, which was the issue that led to Mr Blair's first Commons defeat as prime minister.He did not say whether there would be a fresh attempt to extend the limit as far as 90 days, which was the issue that led to Mr Blair's first Commons defeat as prime minister.
But he said action was needed given that suspects had "unconstrained intent... to murder people in their thousands, or potentially, millions".But he said action was needed given that suspects had "unconstrained intent... to murder people in their thousands, or potentially, millions".
"I'm not being definite, but one way might be to legislate now to extend the current limit but to make it clear that there would extra further judicial and Parliamentary oversight if such measures were ever implemented." "One way might be to legislate now to extend the current limit but to make it clear that there would be extra further judicial and Parliamentary oversight if such measures were ever implemented."
He said he would encourage opposition parties to contribute further ideas and said police, civil liberty groups, the judiciary and community groups would also be consulted.He said he would encourage opposition parties to contribute further ideas and said police, civil liberty groups, the judiciary and community groups would also be consulted.
Moves scupperedMoves scuppered
The government's independent reviewer of anti-terrorism legislation, Lib Dem peer Lord Carlile, reiterated his support for extending detention without charge beyond 28 days.The government's independent reviewer of anti-terrorism legislation, Lib Dem peer Lord Carlile, reiterated his support for extending detention without charge beyond 28 days.
"I can imagine that there may well come to be cases - and I'm not saying that there have been any yet - in which the need to protect evidence, to discover what the evidence is, to de-encrypt computers, to find people may not be achieved within 28 days." He said there may be cases "in which the need to protect evidence, to discover what the evidence is, to de-encrypt computers, to find people may not be achieved within 28 days".
HAVE YOUR SAY More laws just give the trouble makers more to fight against Mal Pearson, Hornsea Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY More laws just give the trouble makers more to fight against Mal Pearson, Hornsea Send us your comments
Mr Reid, who will step down as home secretary in less than three weeks when Tony Blair leaves Downing Street, came under fire last month over terror suspects absconding when under control orders. Mr Reid has blamed the courts and opposition parties for opposing previous attempts to introduce "tougher" anti-terrorism laws.
He blamed courts and opposition parties for scuppering previous moves to toughen the control orders regime. But Conservative Party chairman Francis Maude later told BBC One's Question Time that opposition to extending the 28-day limit was not about party politics
Mr Reid told MPs he was now proposing new measures to toughen control orders relating to fingerprinting, DNA and police powers of entry. "If there's a compelling case that can be presented... then no reasonable politicians are going to resist that on purely dogmatic grounds," he added.
But he appeared to talk down the possibility of opting out of parts of European human rights laws, favouring instead an overall rethink of them. But he said he did not believe the case had not been made to extend the limit, and that it might not be necessary if phone tap evidence and post-charge questioning of suspects were allowed.
'Other serious crimes' 'Astonishing revelation'
This was needed because at the time they were drafted, only nation states could inflict the level of casualties that one individual could now, he said. Mr Reid, who will step down as home secretary in less than three weeks when Mr Blair leaves Downing Street, came under fire last month over terror suspects absconding when under control orders.
Next week, MPs will debate an amendment to a bill, approved by the House of Lords, which would allow telephone intercept evidence to be used in court. He told MPs he was now proposing new measures to toughen control orders relating to fingerprinting, DNA and police powers of entry.
Mr Reid said a committee of Privy councillors would review the ban on such evidence, but he had not been persuaded that it should be allowed. But he was criticised after it emerged that police do not take fingerprints or DNA samples from suspects on control orders.
Lord Carlile, who has been asked by Mr Reid to review the proposals, said it was appropriate to allow the evidence, and not just in terrorist cases, but warned that it was "not a cure-all". For the Lib Dems, Nick Clegg said: "This astonishing revelation merely underlines the profound flaws in the whole control order regime."
PRIVY COUNCIL Smallest government department, with 50 staff and about 300 membersAdvises statutory bodiesFinal court of appeal for some Commonwealth countriesAll members of the Cabinet, past and present, the Speaker, the leaders of all major political parties, Archbishops and various senior judges as well as other senior public figures are privy councillorsUsually meets monthly Search powers 'over-used'PRIVY COUNCIL Smallest government department, with 50 staff and about 300 membersAdvises statutory bodiesFinal court of appeal for some Commonwealth countriesAll members of the Cabinet, past and present, the Speaker, the leaders of all major political parties, Archbishops and various senior judges as well as other senior public figures are privy councillorsUsually meets monthly Search powers 'over-used'
Mr Reid also outlined a proposal to enter the data sharing powers of the security services into legislation. Mr Reid also appeared to talk down the possibility of opting out of parts of European human rights laws, favouring instead an overall rethink of them.
The document added it would "remove barriers to individuals and organisations sharing with the intelligence and security agencies information that is necessary for the proper discharge of the agencies' statutory functions". And he announced that a committee of privy counsellors would review the ban on using telephone intercept evidence in court, but he said he had not been persuaded that it should be allowed.
A Home Office spokeswoman said information was aleady shared with intelligence agencies, but the proposal would "make it official". However, she was not able to explain what "barriers" exist. A proposal to enter the data sharing powers of the security services into legislation, in order to "remove barriers" to individuals and organisations sharing information with them, was also announced.
On stop and question powers for police, Mr Reid prompted laughter from opposition MPs who have read of ministerial opposition to the plan, when he said it was subject to further internal government consultation.On stop and question powers for police, Mr Reid prompted laughter from opposition MPs who have read of ministerial opposition to the plan, when he said it was subject to further internal government consultation.
Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said the Conservatives supported some of the proposals, particularly post-charge interviews and the use of intercept evidence, but not extending the 28-day limit, which was already a "draconian" measure. 'Ancient rights'
Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said the Conservatives supported some of the proposals, but opposed extending the 28-day limit, which he said was already a "draconian" measure.
"Our priority must be to prosecute and convict terrorists, nothing less," he said."Our priority must be to prosecute and convict terrorists, nothing less," he said.
"It is the only way a liberal democracy can ensure terrorists remain locked up until they no longer threaten public safety. It does not require this House to undermine the ancient rights that millions died defending.""It is the only way a liberal democracy can ensure terrorists remain locked up until they no longer threaten public safety. It does not require this House to undermine the ancient rights that millions died defending."
Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg said his party would co-operate with the other parties, but "not at any cost". Mr Clegg added that his party would co-operate with the other parties, but "not at any cost".
He insisted that maintaining a balance between "customary British liberties" and the new measures was essential and said he would not back an extension of the 28-day detention period.He insisted that maintaining a balance between "customary British liberties" and the new measures was essential and said he would not back an extension of the 28-day detention period.