Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, has renewed calls for the current time limit on the detainment of terror suspects to be extended. Speaking at a meeting held at the current Labour Party Conference in Bournemouth, UK, Ms Smith stressed the importance of regarding counter-terrorism efforts as holding much more significance than preserving relations among the community. However, she also added that 90 days detainment, as previously suggested, was too long a time.

The meeting was organised by Liberty, the human rights organisation.

Ms Smith backed up her call by highlighting the omnipresent threat of terrorism that the UK faces, combined with the entangled nature of investigations into acts of terror. "The biggest cause of conflict in our communities would be the impact that a successful terrorist attack would have on those communities", she stated.  

"It is entirely responsible for us to now take Parliament's view on extending the time limit beyond 28 days. What we are not talking about is a 90 day period, although I do believe it's right for Parliament to set a maximum time period for which a person can be detained without charge. We are not suggesting detention with no limit."

Ms Smith emphasised the need to find a balance between developing levels of acceptance within the general public, while also "preventing people who want to turn to violent extremism".

To this end, she expressed her genuine desire for an agreement to be reached, as opposed to one quickly forged when a terror act has already taken place.

Her comments, however, came under scrutiny by the Commons Home Affairs Committee's Chairman _ Keith Vaz. "Parliament will actually need to be convinced with ministers coming out with the facts very clearly", he said, adding: "The police will have to make a better case."

"I think we will need to hear from the police that that 28 day period has not been enough when they have had to confront this new and dangerous threat."

As documented in a previous Security International News Item, a limit of 90 days was suggested two years ago, but never implemented. In a move to try and please all parties concerned, the (then) maximum period of 14 days was doubled, but, still, a large percentage of ministers support notions of further extension.

Source _ Security International's Home Affairs Correspondent

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