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MPs debate terror detention limit MPs debate terror detention limit
(about 4 hours later)
The government's controversial proposal to allow terror suspects to be detained for up to 42 days without charge is to be debated by MPs from about 1540 BST.The government's controversial proposal to allow terror suspects to be detained for up to 42 days without charge is to be debated by MPs from about 1540 BST.
The Home Secretary Jacqui Smith says she is confident the government will succeed in getting its plans through. The Home Secretary Jacqui Smith says she is confident the government will get the plan through.
But there is opposition from the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and a number of Labour backbenchers, who say the proposals are unnecessary. But Labour backbenchers are predicting a significant rebellion - and Tory and Lib Dem MPs have said they will vote against the Bill in its later stages.
The current laws allow suspects to be detained for 28 days.The current laws allow suspects to be detained for 28 days.
Ms Smith has said that the 42-day detention would only be used temporarily and in exceptional circumstances.Ms Smith has said that the 42-day detention would only be used temporarily and in exceptional circumstances.
We have not lost any cases at all by going past the 28 day barrier at the moment Lord DearEx-chief constableWest Midlands Police But some Labour backbenchers remain unconvinced by the arguments - and are expected to vote against the Counter-Terrorism Bill during the later stages of its passage through Parliament.
But Lord Dear - formerly Geoffrey Dear, the chief constable of West Midlands Police - is sceptical of the argument for longer detention. There has been no evidence to show that we need more than 28 days David DavisShadow Home Secretary
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We don't need an extension. The ex-attorney general has said so, many senior police officers I know and speak to privately say so. David Winnick, deputy chairman of the home affairs select committee, predicted a sizeable rebellion.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "It doesn't give us any joy to try to get the government defeated - far from it - but they're absolutely wrong on this issue.
"If there was evidence, compelling evidence, that it was necessary for the security of our country against terrorism that it should go beyond 28 days, I for one would support it.
"But in the absence of such evidence, and bearing in mind it's the longest period of detention without charge anywhere in Europe, I would say to the government, quite clearly, drop it."
'Indefensible'
Shadow Home Secretary David Davis, for the Conservatives, said there were some aspects of the Bill he supported but he was confident of being able to defeat the government on the issue of 42 day detention.
He told Today: "There is already a consensus in the House of Commons for 28 days and not a day longer.
"There has been no evidence to show that we need more than 28 days."
Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said he supported some parts of the Counter-Terrorism Bill, such as post-charge questioning and allowing use of intercept evidence in court in limited cases.
But he said extending the detention of suspects without charge beyond 28 days was "indefensible", threatening not only civil liberties but "the trust that exists between minority communities and the security services".
He added: "We will seek to amend the bill in committee before we agree to sacrifice the good to get rid of the ugly. I expect the key votes to be in committee and at report stage at some point in May."
Terror plots
Plans to extend terror detention to 90 days were defeated by MPs in November 2005 by 31 votes, with 49 Labour MPs rebelling against the government.
But senior police officers, including Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir Ian Blair, have continued to call for an extension beyond 28 days.
In October, Sir Ian told the home affairs committee terror plots were growing in number and complexity and it was "sensible" to extend detention to between 50 and 90 days with judicial oversight.
But Lord Dear - formerly Geoffrey Dear, the chief constable of West Midlands Police - told Today earlier that he was sceptical of the argument for longer detention.
He said: "We don't need an extension. The ex-attorney general has said so, many senior police officers I know and speak to privately say so.
"We have not lost any cases at all by going past the 28 day barrier at the moment.""We have not lost any cases at all by going past the 28 day barrier at the moment."
Racial equality
A series of safeguards have been proposed by Ms Smith as ministers seek to win over enough Labour opponents to allow the proposals to go through.A series of safeguards have been proposed by Ms Smith as ministers seek to win over enough Labour opponents to allow the proposals to go through.
They include giving MPs a debate within 30 days about any case of a suspect being held beyond 28 days.They include giving MPs a debate within 30 days about any case of a suspect being held beyond 28 days.
The plans to extend the limit could also face an Equality and Human Rights Commission court challenge.The plans to extend the limit could also face an Equality and Human Rights Commission court challenge.
The commission says the proposed Counter Terrorism Bill could contravene race equality legislation, as it is being established to deal with a particular religious and racial minority. The commission says the Bill could contravene race equality legislation, as it is being established to deal with a particular religious and racial minority.