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'No decision' on terror detention 'No decision' on terror detention
(20 minutes later)
A new round of cross-party talks is to be held as ministers "seek consensus" for extending the 28 day limit for holding terror suspects without charge.A new round of cross-party talks is to be held as ministers "seek consensus" for extending the 28 day limit for holding terror suspects without charge.
The Home Office said it had "consulted widely on options", but no decision on any changes had been taken.The Home Office said it had "consulted widely on options", but no decision on any changes had been taken.
Ministers are believed to be drawing up a range of safeguards to allow suspects to be detained for up to 58 days.Ministers are believed to be drawing up a range of safeguards to allow suspects to be detained for up to 58 days.
But David Davis, for the Conservatives, said there was not a "an ounce of evidence" for extending the limit.But David Davis, for the Conservatives, said there was not a "an ounce of evidence" for extending the limit.
Under the government's proposals, detention without charge beyond 28 days could only be triggered in exceptional circumstances agreed in advance by Parliament.
Special circumstances
It would also require the home secretary's agreement and the extension of the powers would be time limited. There have already been assurances about greater judicial approval and parliamentary scrutiny.
Ministers say the opposition parties have already accepted in principle that suspects could be held for up to 58 days under existing emergency powers.
How does Gordon Brown seriously think he can forge a national consensus on such a vital issue without any new evidence? Nick CleggLib Dems
As a result, Downing Street said earlier, what was needed now was "a technical discussion" about the circumstances for an extension and the necessary safeguards.
Ministers do not, at this stage, want to propose a new maximum time limit and may not do so until they are confident that they can secure a parliamentary majority for it.
In the past the prime minister has suggested doubling the existing limit of 28 days, which would take it up to a maximum of 56 days.
'Permanent emergency'
BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson said the government hopes to move the debate away from the number of days and on to the trigger, the mechanism and the criteria for what they insist will be a reserve power used in rare and special circumstances.
Shadow home secretary David Davis said the Conservatives would support the use of temporary emergency powers in exceptional circumstances, such as a large number of simultaneous terror plots being probed by police.
But he said the government appeared to be proposing a "permanent undeclared state of emergency" and the Conservatives could not support such a move.
Lib Dem home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg said: "How does Gordon Brown seriously think he can forge a national consensus on such a vital issue without any new evidence and with utter disregard for the strong opinions of those who believe it would be a step too far?"
Terror suspects can currently be detained by police without charge for 28 days, but ministers and the government's overseer of terror laws, Lord Carlile, say the complexity of plots means longer detention may be needed in future.
The issue of how long terror suspects can be detained without charge led to Tony Blair's first Commons defeat as prime minister, when he sought to increase the limit to 90 days.