42 day compromise is a dud

12.00.00am GMT Thu 29th May 2008

Commenting on reports of the Government's compromise on extending pre-charge detention to 42 days, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne said:

"This so-called compromise is a dud. Under this plan, the Government would still be able to lock someone up on a whim for 35 to 38 days without consulting parliament, instead of 42 days.

"There is no need for any extension of detention without charge beyond 28 days, as the Director of Public Prosecutions has already made it clear that he has the ability to charge where necessary.

"Any extension would be counter-productive as it would corrode trust between the police and ethnic minorities with the sort of consequences we witnessed in Ireland after internment.

"The best way to tackle terrorism is by getting police intelligence and witnesses to secure convictions, not by alienating ethnic minority communities.

"Our detention period is already more than twice as long as any comparable country such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the United States."