Clegg condemns police calls for indefinite detention of terror suspects

The call by Ken Jones, head of the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo), for the police to be given the powers to hold terror suspects indefinitely without charge has been condemned by Lib Dem shadow home secretary, Nick Clegg.

In a round of media interviews, Mr Jones has stated: “We are arguing for judicially supervised detention for as long as it takes. We understand people will be concerned and nervous, but we need to create a system with sufficient judicial checks and balances which holds people, but no longer than a day necessary.”

Nick Clegg has branded the call, “bizarre”, noting that, “A vague reference to improved judicial oversight is a red herring if it merely acts as camouflage for internment by another name.”

He was backed up by fellow Lib Dem MP, Dr Evan Harris: “The police have not provided evidence from their experience of recent investigations that the current 28-day limit – already one of the longest for a democracy – is not sufficient to collect evidence to bring charges.”

A bid two years ago by Tony Blair to increase the detention limit to 90 days resulted in a humiliating defeat for Labour in the House of Commons.

Read more by .
This entry was posted in News.
Advert

Post a Comment

Lib Dem Voice welcomes comments from everyone but we ask you to be polite, to be on topic and to be who you say you are. You can read our comments policy in full here. Please respect it and all readers of the site.

To have your photo next to your comment please signup your email address with Gravatar.

Your email is never published. Required fields are marked *

*
*
Please complete the name of this site, Liberal Democrat ...?

Advert

Recent Comments

  • Peter Davies
    Perhaps the reason that none of our MPs is positioning for a leadership chalenge is that most only became MPs two years ago and don't consider themselves ready ...
  • Neil Sandison
    David Allen the deafening silence . its a bit chicken and egg no ones likely to come forward until a leadership contest is announced and they can demonstrate s...
  • David Raw
    @ David Allen, " Until somebody emerges with a genuinely new and attractive platform, stick with Ed." According to the headline in yesterday's 'Daily Telegra...
  • paul barker
    For the first time in two Years Reform are not making Net Gains, of the four Seats where they stood before they lost vote share in three. All that fits with Ref...
  • Matthew Harris
    @CarlPierce I am surprised that the moderators allowed your post through, given everything that can be reasonably inferred from your comments about the “Zioni...