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Blair pushes for 90-day detention Blair pushes for 90-day detention
(20 minutes later)
Tony Blair says he still backs plans to allow police to hold terror suspects for up to 90 days, adding there were "hundreds" of such people in the UK.Tony Blair says he still backs plans to allow police to hold terror suspects for up to 90 days, adding there were "hundreds" of such people in the UK.
He said he believed the evidence backed 90-day detention and said he had not changed his mind since losing a Commons vote on the issue last year.He said he believed the evidence backed 90-day detention and said he had not changed his mind since losing a Commons vote on the issue last year.
But the prime minister, answering questions e-mailed to Downing Street, still hopes to "proceed by consensus".But the prime minister, answering questions e-mailed to Downing Street, still hopes to "proceed by consensus".
UK terror laws reviewer, Lord Carlile, expects fresh plans in the new year. He said new anti-terror proposals could be introduced before Christmas.
Asked about the issue during his interview in Number 10, Mr Blair said: "I am not saying we will not bring back 90 days, but it is important as much as possible to proceed by consensus." The fresh plans, he said, would be "based on an analysis now of what has gone on in the past few months and how we make sure we have the most effective laws to deal with the terrorist threat that we face".
'Terror fatigue' He added: "The issue to do with the number of days of detention will be part of that."
Home Secretary John Reid said on Wednesday that the UK faced a "wave" of terrorist plots, prepared strategically and directed from abroad by al-Qaeda.
But no anti-terror bill was included in the Queen's Speech, as Mr Reid is said to be reviewing options.
Lord Carlile QC monitors the government's anti-terror measuresLord Carlile QC monitors the government's anti-terror measures
The government promised to fill "gaps" in legislation, "taking into account lessons learned" from the alleged airline bombing plot in the summer. Home Secretary John Reid said on Wednesday that the UK faced a "wave" of terrorist plots, prepared strategically and directed from abroad by al-Qaeda.
Also on Wednesday Lord Carlile, the government appointed expert who oversees terrorism laws, told BBC Two's Newsnight the options included "giving police powers to take fingerprints on fingerprint scanners at airports and seaports". Although no anti-terror bill was included in the Queen's Speech, pending Mr Reid's review of options, the government promised to "fill gaps" in legislation.
Lord Carlile, the government appointed expert who oversees terrorism laws, had earlier said he expects fresh anti-terror plans to be published in the new year.
Also on Wednesday Lord Carlile told BBC Two's Newsnight the options included "giving police powers to take fingerprints on fingerprint scanners at airports and seaports".
He added: "The government may also include an attempt to return to 90 days' post-arrest detention.He added: "The government may also include an attempt to return to 90 days' post-arrest detention.
"If they do that it will, as the home secretary has said, have to be on an evidence base.""If they do that it will, as the home secretary has said, have to be on an evidence base."
CompromiseCompromise
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair has said an extension should be "examined again in the near future", with Chancellor Gordon Brown adding that he "completely" agreed with this analysis.Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair has said an extension should be "examined again in the near future", with Chancellor Gordon Brown adding that he "completely" agreed with this analysis.
However, Conservative leader David Cameron accused ministers of peddling the "politics of fear".However, Conservative leader David Cameron accused ministers of peddling the "politics of fear".
The Tories say there should be an extension of the detention limit only if there is "credible evidence" to do so.The Tories say there should be an extension of the detention limit only if there is "credible evidence" to do so.
Last year, the Tories, the Liberal Democrats and Labour rebels defeated government plans to extend the period to 90 days - Prime Minister Tony Blair's first Commons loss.Last year, the Tories, the Liberal Democrats and Labour rebels defeated government plans to extend the period to 90 days - Prime Minister Tony Blair's first Commons loss.
A compromise was eventually agreed to extend it to 28 days, doubling it from the previous 14 days.A compromise was eventually agreed to extend it to 28 days, doubling it from the previous 14 days.
'Undermined confidence''Undermined confidence'
Last week, MI5 chief Dame Eliza Manningham-Buller said the security service knew of 30 terror plots threatening the UK and is keeping 1,600 individuals under surveillance.Last week, MI5 chief Dame Eliza Manningham-Buller said the security service knew of 30 terror plots threatening the UK and is keeping 1,600 individuals under surveillance.
Meanwhile ex-Home Secretary David Blunkett has accepted the public was in danger of having "terror fatigue".Meanwhile ex-Home Secretary David Blunkett has accepted the public was in danger of having "terror fatigue".
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Thursday that raising awareness to the correct level, without creating panic, was "almost impossible".He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Thursday that raising awareness to the correct level, without creating panic, was "almost impossible".
Mr Blunkett also accepted that the fact the government's intelligence had turned out to be "wrong" about Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction had "undermined confidence in other parts of the counter-terrorism thrust".Mr Blunkett also accepted that the fact the government's intelligence had turned out to be "wrong" about Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction had "undermined confidence in other parts of the counter-terrorism thrust".