Brown unveils anti-terror plan Hasan Suroor
Worldview
LONDON: A series of proposals to tighten up Britain's
counter-terror regime in the wake of last month's attempted bombings in
London and Glasgow were announced by Prime Minister Gordon Brown on
Wednesday amid criticism by civil liberties groups that the Government
was encroaching on people's rights in the name of fighting terrorism.
The most controversial proposal relates to the powers of the police
to detain terror suspects without charge. Currently, police can hold
them for 28 days but it is now proposed to extend it to 56 days in
'rare' circumstances and subject to judicial and parliamentary
safeguards.
A move to extend the period for 90 days by the Blair government was
rejected by Parliament, but after last month's failed terror plot the
opinion has shifted in favour of giving police more time to question
suspects.
A suggestion by the human rights group Liberties that in
circumstances where suspects need to be detained beyond 28 days the
Government should first declare a national emergency has also been
included in the consultation paper set out by Mr. Brown.
But the Government is understood to be not in favour of any measure
that would require declaration of a national emergency.
Accountability Unveiling the proposals in the Commons, Mr. Brown was
at pains to emphasise that the proposed 56-day extension would be
subject to sufficient 'judicial oversight' and 'parliamentary
accountability'. Any extension, he said, would not only be subject to a
specific case being made out by the Director of Public Prosecutions but
would not exceed seven days at a time.
And every extension would need to be approved by a High Court judge.
Parliament would have to be notified in each case.
Other measures include tighter border controls including electronic
screening of all passengers entering or leaving a British airport or any
other point of entry.
Mr. Brown justified the need for stronger measures arguing that
security was the 'first duty' of the Government.
There was a 'continuing' threat to the country with the police and
security services already monitoring 30 'known plots' and more than 200
groups or networks suspected to be involved in terrorist activity.
(The Hindu)
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