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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| UK to get 'unified' border force | UK to get 'unified' border force |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Britain is to get a "unified border force" to boost the fight against terrorism, the prime minister has said. | Britain is to get a "unified border force" to boost the fight against terrorism, the prime minister has said. |
| A "highly visible" uniformed force would bring together immigration and Customs officers, Gordon Brown said. | A "highly visible" uniformed force would bring together immigration and Customs officers, Gordon Brown said. |
| He also announced a review of allowing intercept evidence to be used in court, and doubling the 28 days police can question suspects before charging them. | He also announced a review of allowing intercept evidence to be used in court, and doubling the 28 days police can question suspects before charging them. |
| The border force has been called for by the Conservatives for years, and had previously been rejected by ministers. | The border force has been called for by the Conservatives for years, and had previously been rejected by ministers. |
| Outlining his counter-terrorism strategy to MPs, Mr Brown said the unified border force could be implemented "very quickly", adding: "Very soon people will see this uniformed presence at the ports." | |
| Biometric visas | |
| The officers would have the combined powers of immigration, customs and police officers - so would be able to detain people suspected of immigration offences, he said. | |
| Among other measures, he said all visa applicants would require biometric visas from March 2008, and the existing "e-borders scheme" would be expanded. | |
| Responding to the statement, Tory leader David Cameron said: "I'm delighted he has finally adopted our policy of a border police force." | |
| On pre-charge detention, Mr Brown said the government would consult on whether to extend it beyond 28 days, saying one option would be to extend it by a further 28 days, but subject to parliamentary scrutiny and a judge's approval. | |
| "I detect a growing weight of opinion including from Lord Carlile the independent reviewer of anti terrorism legislation that there may be some circumstances in which detention beyond 28 days could be necessary," he said. | |
| He added the circumstances might be "where the police have to intervene early to avert an attack" or "where there may be huge quantities of material evidence to be analysed" and help from other countries is needed. | |
| Mr Brown told MPs there had been 15 attempted terrorist attacks on Britain since 2001 and 30 people had been convicted so far this year. | Mr Brown told MPs there had been 15 attempted terrorist attacks on Britain since 2001 and 30 people had been convicted so far this year. |
| He said 900 shopping centres, sports centres and other venues where large numbers of people congregate had been assessed by counter-terrorism advisers. | |
| And he said "additional protection" was needed for utility sites, crowded places and the national infrastructure, from roads and the railway to waterways. | |
| Reviews on security measures at such sites would be on-going over the summer, he added. |