This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/8375610.stm

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Report 'critical' of terror raids Police 'errors' over terror raids
(about 5 hours later)
An independent report into anti-terror raids across north-west England is expected to criticise the police. Police have been criticised for failing to consult properly with specialist prosecutors ahead of high-profile anti-terror arrests in north west England.
It is likely to say Greater Manchester Police should have consulted specialist lawyers before the operation in April. Independent reviewer of terrorism laws Lord Carlile QC said they did not seek advice on whether there was enough evidence to bring criminal charges.
Officers launched the raid a day early, after Bob Quick, the then head of UK counter-terrorism, was photographed holding details of the operation. Twelve students were detained in raids in April but all were later freed.
Twelve students were arrested and most were questioned for two weeks before all were released without charge. Greater Manchester Police said it did consult the Crown Prosecution Service and acted to protect public safety.
At the time, the simultaneous raids across Manchester, Merseyside and Lancashire were headline news. Codenamed Operation Pathway, the raids were a response to what police thought was an imminent terror threat. The students were arrested in simultaneous raids across Manchester, Merseyside and Lancashire as part of Operation Pathway.
New training needed They were a response to what police thought was an imminent terror threat, but had to be launched a day early, after Bob Quick, then head of UK counter-terrorism, was photographed holding details of the operation.
The operation has been examined by Lord Carlile QC, the government's independent reviewer of terrorism laws. Mr Quick later resigned over the incident.
It is thought his report concludes there was enough evidence to justify arresting some of the men, but it criticises police for failing to obtain prior advice from counter-terrorism specialists at the Crown Prosecution Service. 'Specialist advice'
It says this could have reduced the number of arrests made or enabled police to better argue the case for detaining the men longer while investigations and searches continued. Lord Carlile told the BBC that while there was "a sound basis for carrying out arrests", there was insufficient evidence to charge the men by the time their initial period of detention was up.
It is understood the police reject such criticisms and insist their action was necessary to protect the public. FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/default.stm">More from Today programme
The report will also criticise Mr Quick, the former Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner, who resigned following his blunder with the secret documents. And, crucially, there was also insufficient evidence to seek to hold them longer, he added.
It is also likely to call for new training for officers on anti-terror laws. "I believe the police should have asked the CPS terrorism experts their expert advice in relation to arrest law and whether the material available in this case would have enabled them to obtain what are called warrants for further detention," he said.
"The police and the CPS were in contact, but the CPS were not asked to give specialist advice effectively until about a week after the arrests."
Lord Carlile said earlier consultation may have resulted in fewer arrests being made in the first place.
But he insisted the problems had nothing to do with Mr Quick's blunder in Downing Street.
"The arrests had to be brought forward, but nevertheless there was plenty of time to obtain advice well ahead and I think that this might have resulted in a more complete operation, a better operation that would have shown terrorism law used more accurately."
He did, however, say that anyone attending any meeting "concerned with national security... should seek to avoid places where it is suspected cameras may be present".
Raids took place across Manchester, Merseyside and Lancashire
Assistant Chief Constable Dave Thompson, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "In this situation we felt we had to act to protect the public.
"We did speak to the Crown Prosecution Service ahead of arrests being made and will continue to work with them. However, none of the conversations would have changed our decision to make arrests or the number of people arrested."
'No bail'
Home Secretary Alan Johnson said: "As the report highlights, police need to make difficult decisions about when to make arrests based on the evidence available to them at the time, to ensure public safety.
"We will continue to work with them to review and improve operational performance and procedure where necessary."
Mr Johnson rejected Lord Carlile's suggestion that terror suspects should be allowed bail while further inquiries into their activities are carried out because of potential risks to public safety.
All but one of the men held were Pakistani nationals in the UK on student visas. The other had joint UK and Pakistani citizenship.All but one of the men held were Pakistani nationals in the UK on student visas. The other had joint UK and Pakistani citizenship.
Seven of the students have returned to Pakistan voluntarily, while two are challenging attempts to deport them on the grounds they pose a threat to national security. Intelligence sources revealed some had taken photographs at destinations including a large shopping centre and a nightclub which were thought to be possible terror targets.
Intelligence sources revealed some had taken photographs at destinations including a large shopping centre, a nightclub and a city centre square. The suspicion was that these were targets for a terrorist attack, possibly at Easter. Greater Manchester Police said the case was still "live".