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_politics/7090105.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Terror detention 'longest' in UK | Terror detention 'longest' in UK |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Britain detains suspected terrorists without charge for longer than many other comparable countries, human rights group Liberty has said. | Britain detains suspected terrorists without charge for longer than many other comparable countries, human rights group Liberty has said. |
| Currently there is a 28-day limit in the UK but the government is considering extending that, although ministers have not said by how much. | Currently there is a 28-day limit in the UK but the government is considering extending that, although ministers have not said by how much. |
| The Liberty survey was carried out by lawyers and academics in 15 countries. | The Liberty survey was carried out by lawyers and academics in 15 countries. |
| It found Australia, which has a similar legal system, had the second longest limit - 12 days. | It found Australia, which has a similar legal system, had the second longest limit - 12 days. |
| In France, terror suspects can be held for six days before the equivalent of a charge is made. | In France, terror suspects can be held for six days before the equivalent of a charge is made. |
| Meanwhile, in Germany, suspects must be seen by a judge within 48 hours but can be held without trial during the period of investigation. This must be reviewed by a judge at least every six months. | |
| I think it's perfectly proper to charge someone with a lower-level offence...while you continue to investigate a complex conspiracy to murder Shami ChakrabartiDirector of Liberty World detention times | |
| BBC home affairs correspondent Rory Maclean says it is difficult to compare legal systems, but Liberty had used the charge as an indicator of when the process moves from the police to the judiciary. | |
| On that basis the 28-day limit in the UK was by far the longest, he said. | On that basis the 28-day limit in the UK was by far the longest, he said. |
| Liberty is calling for Britain to use alternative measures, including the use of intercept evidence. | Liberty is calling for Britain to use alternative measures, including the use of intercept evidence. |
| Its director Shami Chakrabarti told BBC Radio 4's Today programme she would also back measures allowing for a suspect to be charged with a lesser offence while investigations for other related offences continued. | |
| "With safeguards, I think it's perfectly proper to charge someone with a lower-level offence, like possessing explosive material or attending a terror training camp, while you continue to investigate a complex conspiracy to murder." |