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Statement on extending detention

12 June 2008

This week the House of Commons approved the government's plan to extend the number of days a terrorism suspect can be held before they're charged.

The current limit is 28 days, but the government would like to extend that to 42 days.

Investigators would need this extra time only for the most complex of terrorism plots, in which they must wade through enormous amounts of evidence.

A number of safeguards have been written into the bill to ensure that the detention power is not abused.

Home Secretary's statement

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith issued the following statement after the vote in the House of Commons:

'The provisions in the Counter-terrorism Bill are about protecting the British people from the serious threat we face from terrorism, and I am very pleased the bill has passed report stage and third reading.

'Overall, there has been broad agreement on the draft legislation, and we have gone to great lengths to consult widely on our proposal to temporarily extend pre-charge detention. The provision now includes further important safeguards.

'The government is determined to give the police the powers they need to tackle terrorism. That is why it is right and proper to legislate now to put in place the reserve power to go beyond 28 days in future, if there is a clear operational need for it.

'We will now continue to press for these important measures as the bill continues its passage through the House of Lords.'

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