Plans to lock up terror suspects without charge provoke outcry (UK)

[cal04]

90 Days: Plans to lock up terror suspects without charge provoke outcry
Imprisoning terrorist suspects without charge for up to three months could breach human rights law, the Government's terror watchdog has warned. Lord Carlile of Berriew dealt another damaging blow to the contentious plans - which are already under fire from MPs of all parties, senior judges and human rights groups - by raising fresh doubts over the legality of the plans. His remarks followed a unsuccessful attempt by the Government to argue that the proposals in the Terrorism Bill, published yesterday, were not out of step with other Western nations. A Foreign Office dossier showed that British police were being offered wider powers to interrogate suspects than is allowed in any comparable country.

The Bill sets out a range of proposals to combat terrorism in the wake of the London bomb attacks on 7 July. It outlaws the "encouragement" or "glorification" of terrorism, as well as creating offences of " preparing a terrorist attack" and "receiving training in terrorist techniques". The Government will face a struggle to push through its plan to increase the time suspects can be held from 14 to 90 days. In the face of accusations that it plans "internment by the back door" , the Bill looks certain to meet fierce opposition in the House of Lords. The Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith, has already said he does not believe the Government has made the case for extending the time limit. Tony Blair told MPs there was a "compelling argument" behind extending detention. It has been proposed by the police who argue they could require extra time to prepare for complex terrorist prosecutions.

Lord Carlile acknowledged that past investigations into terror networks had collapsed because police had needed more time to investigate. But he called for a much more robust judicial oversight of the detention plans. He said: " A more searching system is required to reflect the seriousness of the state holding someone in high-security custody without charge for as long as three months. I question whether what is proposed in the Bill would be proof to challenge under the Human Rights Act, given the length of extended detention envisaged." In response, Hazel Blears, the Home Office minister, insisted the Government was certain the legislation was compatible with human rights law. She added: "It is right that people question and probe these issues but the three-month period is what the police and security service say is necessary."

Lord Carlile, the Government's independent reviewer of counter-terrorism laws, also voiced "real concern" about the detention of nine suspected terrorists pending deportation to Algeria or Jordan. He said the men, formerly known as the "Belmarsh detainees" who were later made the subject of control orders had, in effect, had their detention without charge reinstated when they were detained for deportation in August. In further criticism, he said a proposed new offence of undergoing or providing terrorist training may be "more extensive than required" , warning it could criminalise undercover journalists. And he said plans to give police powers to close mosques needed "careful examination".

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article319167.ece

[punpirate]

1. Blair and Straw seem to be taking lessons from...

... the Bushies, and the British don't like it. They're wise not to.

[soothsayer]

2. Yeah, thank god they have the sense to balk