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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. |
| Officers from the Border and Immigration Agency, Revenue and Customs and UKVisas will be brought together to create a "single primary checkpoint" for passport control and customs. | Officers from the Border and Immigration Agency, Revenue and Customs and UKVisas will be brought together to create a "single primary checkpoint" for passport control and customs. |
| I'm delighted he has finally adopted our policy of a border police force David Cameron Analysis: Terror consensus? class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6915990.stm">Terrorism statements in full | |
| Outlining his counter-terrorism strategy to MPs, he said the cabinet secretary had been asked to report back by October on how to implement the proposal "very soon". | Outlining his counter-terrorism strategy to MPs, he said the cabinet secretary had been asked to report back by October on how to implement the proposal "very soon". |
| Responding to the statement, Tory leader David Cameron said: "I'm delighted he has finally adopted our policy of a border police force." | Responding to the statement, Tory leader David Cameron said: "I'm delighted he has finally adopted our policy of a border police force." |
| Mr Brown also said he wanted stronger measures to stop terrorism suspects arriving in the first place, through electronic screening of all passengers checking in and out of the UK. | Mr Brown also said he wanted stronger measures to stop terrorism suspects arriving in the first place, through electronic screening of all passengers checking in and out of the UK. |
| Detention limits | Detention limits |
| He said all visa applicants would require biometric visas from March 2008 and the existing "e-borders scheme" would be expanded. | He said all visa applicants would require biometric visas from March 2008 and the existing "e-borders scheme" would be expanded. |
| An "all-party consensus" on the use of intercept evidence in court and questioning of suspects after they have been charged would be sought. | An "all-party consensus" on the use of intercept evidence in court and questioning of suspects after they have been charged would be sought. |
| Mr Brown also said he would consult on whether to extend beyond 28 days the period suspects can be held before they are charged - possibly up to 56 days, subject to a judge's approval and parliamentary scrutiny. | Mr Brown also said he would consult on whether to extend beyond 28 days the period suspects can be held before they are charged - possibly up to 56 days, subject to a judge's approval and parliamentary scrutiny. |
| I think it is a complete and utter nonsense, this idea that Parliament could act as a court Nick CleggLib Dems Who guards UK borders? Q&A: Anti-terror laws | I think it is a complete and utter nonsense, this idea that Parliament could act as a court Nick CleggLib Dems Who guards UK borders? Q&A: Anti-terror laws |
| An attempt to extend the period to 90 days in 2005, ended with Tony Blair's first Commons defeat as prime minister. | An attempt to extend the period to 90 days in 2005, ended with Tony Blair's first Commons defeat as prime minister. |
| Ministers say it is right to consider extending it because of the increasing complexity of some plots - but the Tories, Lib Dems and some Labour backbenchers have opposed previous attempts to do so. | Ministers say it is right to consider extending it because of the increasing complexity of some plots - but the Tories, Lib Dems and some Labour backbenchers have opposed previous attempts to do so. |
| For the Lib Dems Nick Clegg, said a proposal for there to be Parliamentary oversight of any extension was "complete and utter nonsense". | For the Lib Dems Nick Clegg, said a proposal for there to be Parliamentary oversight of any extension was "complete and utter nonsense". |
| "What is Parliament supposed to do when the police are detaining someone without charge? They won't be given privy to all the information so I'm afraid I think a lot of that is a bit of a fig leaf." | "What is Parliament supposed to do when the police are detaining someone without charge? They won't be given privy to all the information so I'm afraid I think a lot of that is a bit of a fig leaf." |
| 'Terrorist recruiter's dream' | 'Terrorist recruiter's dream' |
| Human rights campaigners said any extension would alienate Muslim communities. | Human rights campaigners said any extension would alienate Muslim communities. |
| Amnesty International's Nicola Duckworth said locking people up for 56 days without charge "amounted to internment" which had "devastating consequences" in Northern Ireland in the 1970s. | Amnesty International's Nicola Duckworth said locking people up for 56 days without charge "amounted to internment" which had "devastating consequences" in Northern Ireland in the 1970s. |
| And Liberty director Shami Chakrabarti said it would be better to be able to charge someone for a less serious offence, then go on to question them on more serious charges. | And Liberty director Shami Chakrabarti said it would be better to be able to charge someone for a less serious offence, then go on to question them on more serious charges. |
| "We say that's a lot less divisive, a lot less unjust, a lot less of a terrorist recruiter's dream," she said. | "We say that's a lot less divisive, a lot less unjust, a lot less of a terrorist recruiter's dream," she said. |
| Other proposals announced include: | Other proposals announced include: |
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| 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. | 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. | 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. | Reviews on security measures at such sites would be on-going over the summer, he added. |