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Brown to unveil anti-terror plans Brown to unveil anti-terror plans
(about 2 hours later)
Gordon Brown is to announce measures to give better protection against terror attacks on rail stations, airports, shopping centres and sports stadiums.Gordon Brown is to announce measures to give better protection against terror attacks on rail stations, airports, shopping centres and sports stadiums.
Security minister Lord West was asked to draw up the plans after attempted bombings in London and Glasgow Airport. Security minister Lord West was asked to draw up the plans in July.
The prime minister said attacks could hit "anywhere and from any place". However, ahead of the announcement Lord West was at the centre of confusion on detention limits for terror suspects.
He is also due to unveil more details of the planned border force combining immigration, customs and visa staff and a relaxation of air luggage rules. He told the BBC initially he was not convinced about extending the limit beyond 28 days - but then said he was convinced after talks in No 10.
During the Today programme interview at 0810, former Admiral Lord West said he still needed "to be fully convinced that we absolutely need more than 28 days".
'Complex plots'
"I want to be totally convinced because I am not going to go and push for something that actually affects the liberty of the individual unless there is a real necessity for it."
But then at 0930, after a half-hour meeting with Mr Brown, the peer told the BBC he was "personally convinced" that the 28-day limit needed extending.
There is no doubt there are very real threats, that the design in the past of certain buildings and certain places does not make it easy to counter a terrorist attack on them Lord WestSecurity Minister
"I personally, absolutely believe that within the next two or three years we will require more than that for one of those complex plots," he said.
He later issued a statement in an attempt to clarify his position saying: "I am quite clear that the greater complexities of terrorist plots will mean that we will need the power to detain certain individuals for more than 28 days."
Tories, Lib Dems and some Labour MPs plan to try to block the move to raise the limit, saying there is no evidence change is needed.
Lord West's comments came as Mr Brown prepares to outline the conclusions of the peer's review into strengthening security in crowded public areas and designing anti-terror features in new buildings and projects.
Mr Brown will also unveil more details of the planned border force combining immigration, customs and visa staff and a relaxation of air luggage rules.
Ahead of the statement he said that there would be "some inconvenience in what we propose", but this needed to be balanced with protection of liberties and minimising the inconvenience to passengers in our airports.
VigilanceVigilance
As part of his brief, Lord West has been examining ways of strengthening security in crowded public areas and has called for architects to include anti-terror features in new buildings and projects. Lord West told Today that he started his brief "on the premise that what we mustn't do is the terrorists' job for them".
I want to have absolute evidence that we actually need longer than 28 days Admiral Lord WestSecurity Minister "Yes, there is a great risk, we've got to be vigilant - but we need to make sure we conduct our normal way of life in terms of business, work, pleasure, all these things," he said.
"I started very much on the premise that what we mustn't do is the terrorists' job for them," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
"Yes, there is a great risk, we've got to be vigilant - but we need to make sure we conduct our normal way of life in terms of business, work, pleasure, all these things.
"There is no doubt there are very real threats, that the design in the past of certain buildings and certain places does not make it easy to counter a terrorist attack on them."There is no doubt there are very real threats, that the design in the past of certain buildings and certain places does not make it easy to counter a terrorist attack on them.
"If a bomb goes off, we have actually built into them the shrapnel that will kill and injure people and we can actually do things to make this better."If a bomb goes off, we have actually built into them the shrapnel that will kill and injure people and we can actually do things to make this better.
"We very clearly, from now on, must always make sure we design in counter terrorism measures as we do counter crime measures.""We very clearly, from now on, must always make sure we design in counter terrorism measures as we do counter crime measures."
'Cancer of terrorism''Cancer of terrorism'
The peer said he and his team had looked at how to protect existing buildings, by redesigning road layouts, putting in barriers and using specific types of glass.The peer said he and his team had looked at how to protect existing buildings, by redesigning road layouts, putting in barriers and using specific types of glass.
He said Britain "can spend the national wealth on protecting ourselves and trying to chase these criminals down".He said Britain "can spend the national wealth on protecting ourselves and trying to chase these criminals down".
But none of the measures would be effective without "exorcising this cancer of terrorism", by "stopping the radicalisation of our youth" - a measure the prime minister is expected to update MPs on.But none of the measures would be effective without "exorcising this cancer of terrorism", by "stopping the radicalisation of our youth" - a measure the prime minister is expected to update MPs on.
Asked whether he backed government plans to extend the pre-charge detention limit of terror suspects before charge, Lord West said: "I want to have absolute evidence that we actually need longer than 28 days.
"I want to be totally convinced because I am not going to go and push for something that actually affects the liberty of the individual unless there is a real necessity for it."
Border force
Tories, Lib Dems and some Labour MPs plan to try to block the move to raise the limit, saying there is no evidence change is needed.
Details of the unified border force, first announced by Mr Brown in July, are also due to be outlined on Wednesday.Details of the unified border force, first announced by Mr Brown in July, are also due to be outlined on Wednesday.
A study led by the Cabinet secretary, Sir Gus O'Donnell, considered whether it should include police officers as well as those from the Border and Immigration Agency, Customs and the overseas UK Visa operations.A study led by the Cabinet secretary, Sir Gus O'Donnell, considered whether it should include police officers as well as those from the Border and Immigration Agency, Customs and the overseas UK Visa operations.
Writing in the Sun newspaper, Mr Brown said: "Terrorism can hit us anywhere from any place. Writing in the Sun newspaper, he said: "Terrorism can hit us anywhere from any place.
"But just as the terrorists use every method and the very freedoms we enjoy to kill or maim people, so we must also adopt new tools to beat the terrorists, secure our borders and create a safe global society.""But just as the terrorists use every method and the very freedoms we enjoy to kill or maim people, so we must also adopt new tools to beat the terrorists, secure our borders and create a safe global society."