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Police urging terror limit review Police urging terror limit review
(about 1 hour later)
Senior police officers have renewed their call for a change in the law on how long a terror suspect can be held without charge.Senior police officers have renewed their call for a change in the law on how long a terror suspect can be held without charge.
Ken Jones, head of the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo), said some suspects should be held "for as long as it takes" to finish the investigation. Ken Jones, head of the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo), said some suspects should be held "for as long as it takes" to finish an investigation.
Shami Chakrabarti, of campaign group Liberty, said it was not Mr Jones's job to launch political campaigns.
Currently, terror suspects can be held for up to 28 days without charge.Currently, terror suspects can be held for up to 28 days without charge.
But Mr Jones said it was not about such limits but about having enough time to secure evidence in serious cases. 'Against the buffers'
There is no benefit to the police in keeping any individual in custody for a single day longer than is required Ken JonesAcpo The government has tried to raise the limit a suspect can be held without charge to 90 days.
The 28-day limit had been a compromise - the government wanted 90 days, but attempts to push it through ended with Tony Blair's first Commons defeat as prime minister. But MPs have consistently rejected that proposal - handing former Prime Minister Tony Blair his first defeat in the Commons, in 2005.
Mr Jones said investigators were facing an unprecedented international dimension in terrorism cases and often inquiries took longer than the timescales permitted by law. "We are up against the buffers on the 28-day limit," Mr Jones told the Observer newspaper.
He said one suggestion from Acpo was that any time period granted should be managed and scrutinised by senior judges at regular intervals. He said he recognised people would be "concerned and nervous", but said removing the upper limit on detention would entail "sufficient judicial checks and balances".
We expect chief constables to uphold the rule of law, not campaign for internment Shami ChakrabartiLiberty
In a statement issued later, Mr Jones said investigators were facing an unprecedented international dimension in terrorism cases, and often inquiries took longer than the timescales permitted by law.
"There is no benefit to the police in keeping any individual in custody for a single day longer than is required to investigate criminal, or terrorist activity," he said."There is no benefit to the police in keeping any individual in custody for a single day longer than is required to investigate criminal, or terrorist activity," he said.
"But any period of proportionate, pre-charge detention must be sufficient to exhaust all enquiries in what are increasingly complex investigations," he continued."But any period of proportionate, pre-charge detention must be sufficient to exhaust all enquiries in what are increasingly complex investigations," he continued.
Shami Chakrabarti, director of human rights group Liberty, said: "We elect politicians to determine legislation and we expect chief constables to uphold the rule of law, not campaign for internment."Shami Chakrabarti, director of human rights group Liberty, said: "We elect politicians to determine legislation and we expect chief constables to uphold the rule of law, not campaign for internment."
The Terrorism Act 2006 raised the limit a suspect can be held from 14 days to 28 days - although the 28-day measure has to be renewed by MPs every 12 months.
The Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats have given their support to the 28-day limit, but both parties say they would prefer a return to a 14-day limit.
The Tories have raised concerns that holding people for long periods before they were charged fuelled media speculation and was risking prejudicing future trials.
The Lib Dems are in favour of allowing phone-tap evidence in court, which they say would help reduce the amount of time police need to make their case.