Parliament Set to Debate Terror Suspect Issues

The UK Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, has suggested that the Police may be able put terror suspects through interrogation after a charge has been made. The issue is one that, in light of the Queen's Speech on the 6^th November 2007, is now set to be debated imminently by Members of Parliament.

The Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives alike have urged for the post-charge questioning of terror suspects, instead of detention where no charge has been made.

Post-Charge Questioning Not Just for Terror Suspects

According, however, to Ms Smith, the measure, if implemented, could affect suspected criminals other than terrorists. Elaborating on this, she stated the following to the Today programme broadcast on the BBC's Radio 4:

"Well, we're looking actually, as part of our review of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act, at whether or not it is more widely appropriate, so it's something that we're considering more widely on a slightly slower timescale."

Ms Smith further detailed that questioning after charge could not be considered "a panacea in itself, but it is an important condition for a bill that we believe will provide for investigators and for prosecutors more of the tools that they need to help them to counter the serious threat from terrorism".

The Conservative Party has claimed that the issue of questioning suspects after they have been charged is one of their own design. They add, however, that they would want further measures still to be introduced, such as a "proper" force guarding England's borders.

MPs Also to Debate Terror Suspect Hold Period

Also up for debate by MPs is the issue of how long terror suspects should be held prior to being charged. Current indications seem to be that, among ministers, the preference is for the present 28 day limit to be doubled. On this subject, Ms Smith told Today that she was unsure whether such an extension would be put into motion.

"What I believe, listening to those who've been involved in the complexity of these plots, is there is a strong chance, they say, in the future we'll need more than 28 days", she said.

"There should be a maximum period. I don't... you know... we have not decided."

Two years ago, the former Prime Minister Tony Blair suffered his first defeat in the House of Commons when proposing the (then) 14 day terror suspect hold period should be stretched to 90 days. Now, in 2007, a number of high profile figures have called for a new, 56 day limit - commensurate with the more elaborate terror plots than in 2005.

Conservatives/Lib Dems Need Evidence Before Backing Extension

While Gordon Brown has called for a consensus, both the Lib Dems and the Conservatives refuse to back the extension without clear evidence to support it. Lady Pauline Neville-Jones - previously the chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee, and who now speaks on national security for the Conservatives - highlighted how: "It's not a question of being soft on terrorism. It's a question of real proportionality."

She continued: "We're the only democracy in the whole world that has gone as far as a month. Do we really want to go for a generation, or two generations possibly, because everybody understands this is going to be a very long haul against terrorism, extending the periods of detention relating to the whole of the population? I would hope not."

In an attempt to compromise on the issue, ministers have pledged additional parliamentary and judicial oversight in respect of any extension. On top of this, they have indicated that, on paper, the questioning of terror suspects after charge receives their backing.

However, in the eyes of Ali Naseem Bajwa - a barrister specialising in terror cases - such a move would be largely ineffective.

"After charge, a suspect has very little to gain by commenting," Mr Bajwa noted. "He has already been labelled a terrorist. He might as well save it for the jury."

Source - Security International's Current Affairs Correspondent

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