56 days would be 28 days too long

56 days would be 28 days too long

Last Wednesday the government suffered a defeat in the House of Lords on its unlawful policy of subjecting suspected terrorists to control orders. I have covered it here and here. Therefore, I am dismayed to learn that Gordon Brown is to focus on terrorism in the Queen's speech next week, and attack David Cameron for allegedly being weak on national security. At present there is a 28 day detention limit for suspected terrorists undergoing police questioning, and Gordon Brown is seeking to extend this to 56 days the time terrorism suspects can be held. This is equivalent to a 4-6 months prison sentence for someone convicted of an offence and sentenced to imprisonment. Here we are talking about someone who is innocent and has not yet been charged let alone sentenced, so such a powerful measure to give to the police requires very substantial justification. It is not enough just to say "protecting members of the public from a risk of terrorism".

As I understand it, there has only be one occasion where a suspect needed to be detained for 27 days. This does not warrant giving the police such draconian powers to extend the 28 day limit to 56 days. I can see the police, if they were given the power, taking their time just because they have the power to do so. However, it is the liberty of the subject that is at stake and not a minute more of detention should be used than is absolutely necessary.

I am no great lover of either David Cameron nor David Davis. However, I support their stand against Gordon Brown and the Home Secretary on this one. It is nonsense to claim that this pair are being weak on national security for opposing such a measure. According to Amnesty International we already have some of the most strongest anti-terrorism legislation in the world. There needs to be a limit to how oppressive and repressive we can be to suspects. It has already got to the point where we are equating suspect with guilt.

There is nothing "reasonable and proportionate" about what Gordon Brown is proposing. Anyone interested in civil liberties should oppose this proposal.

UPDATE: Terror limit 'could be doubled'