Police seek unlimited detention

Police chiefs are calling for the power to lock up terror suspects indefinitely.

Reopening the debate over detention without trial, the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) called for some suspects to be held for "as long as it takes".

Tony Blair was defeated in the Commons two years ago when he tried to introduce a 90-day detention period. MPs backed an increase to just 28 days instead.

But Acpo president Ken Jones said police were struggling to operate within the 28-day limit, stressing the global scale of terror investigations and the need to arrest suspects early.

He said: "We are now arguing for judicially supervised detention for as long as it takes. We are up against the buffers on the 28-day limit.

"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."

The idea is said to have been discussed with Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who has signalled his intention to re-visit the subject of detention without trial this year.

Shami Chakrabarti, director of human rights group Liberty, said: "We elect politicians to determine legislation and we expect chief constables to uphold the rule of law, not campaign for internment."

But Mr Jones said: "There is no benefit to the police in keeping any individual in custody for a single day longer than is required to investigate criminal, or terrorist activity, but any period of proportionate, pre-charge detention must be sufficient to exhaust all enquiries in what are, increasingly complex investigations."

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