|
UK unveils new anti-terror bill
Britains Home Secretary John Reid on Thursday proposed new laws to combat the threat of terrorist attacks, including some laws he conceded might stir controversy.The plans unveiled in parliament include allowing police to held terror suspects - for longer periods - without charge, tougher sentences for convicted terrorists and a review of the ban on using intercept evidence such as phone tapping. I believe that terrorism remains the greatest threat to the life and the liberty of this nation, Reid said as he announced the proposals for a new counter-terrorism bill. It is the greatest challenge we face and it is important that our legislation continues to evolve to meet the threat, just as the terrorists will continue to advance in their means forming that threat. But I firmly believe that any legislation concerned with national security should be taken forward with the full support of this house. The most contentious proposal involves extending the 28-day limit in which detectives question terror suspects without charging them. Outgoing Prime Minister Tony Blair back in 2005 wanted to give police 90 days to grill suspects, citing the length of time it took detectives to gather evidence from the Internet and abroad. However, he was forced to limit the period to 28 days - up from the original 14 days - after parliament members rejected his plan, inflicting Blair first defeat in the House of Commons. Posted by: Fred 2007-06-08 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=190283 |