12th Jun 2008

'42' is not the answer to terrorism

IN OUR VIEW - it is appalling that our elected Members of Parliament have voted through this plan to extend the detention without charge time to 42 days. Even our current legislation allows suspects to be detained for up to 28 days - the longest time in Europe.

However, by focussing only on the 42 days we are in danger of overlooking other measures in the bill which are equally problematic, especially given the excessively broad definition of terrorism contained in the 2000 Terrorism Act.

'Anti-terror' powers are increasingly being used to incriminate innocent people and this bill will further exacerbate this. The Bill also proposes forms of punishment that may be imposed after conviction, without further due legal process and even on the basis of secret evidence withheld from defendants. In addition, the measures to allow no-jury inquests in the name of 'national security' would seriously undermine police accountability.

Counter-terror powers are already more than sufficient and the counter-terrorism bill as it stands does more to endanger than to enhance public safety.

ENDS