Anthony Barnett (London, OK): Brown’s integrated approach in his statement on terrorism will win him support as it seems coherent, practical, serious and sober and thus a huge relief from recent playground bullying and showmanship, as well as Cameron’s odd mixture of piety and taunting on show today in the House of Commons. But I am completely unconvinced by the extension of 28 days detention. The Prime Minister went on about how there would be parliamentary oversight. But as Nick Clegg is quoted as saying on Martha Kearney's World at One, this is "complete and utter nonsense". Parliament has long been exploited as a screen for executive decisions. It was the ritual pretence of parliamentary authority that rightly irritated Labour politicians when they were up against Thatcher. An enhanced role for parliament means giving it independent power of initiative and free votes not a further role as a patsy to executive pieties.
As Nicola Duckworth of Amnesty International says in their response, “The UK government's proposal to lock people up for 56 days without charge or trial amounts to internment and is an assault on human rights and freedoms this is a gift to terrorist inclined organisations”. She adds,
"Our worldwide research over the years has also shown that prolonged pre-charge detention creates a climate for abusive practices that can result in detainees making involuntary statements, including forced confessions and therefore undermines confidence in the judicial system. Our concerns are not allayed by the government’s proposals for judicial and parliamentary scrutiny of this extension."
As there will now be questioning after charge, and with intercept evidence being admissible in court, if there is a case for holding someone for 28 days there will be a case for bringing a charge. The only reason for not doing so is going to be… that there is no such evidence.
