Half a crime is still a crime

Anthony Barnett (London, OK): The sudden announcement that the government will seek to extend what is in effect internment to 42 days is as ridiculous as it is outrageous. For months we have been told that Gordon Brown has been seeking "consensus" on this issue. Now they have substituted subtraction for agreement. These are desperate times for the government and they have called forth pathetic mathematics. They have halved the difference between the 56 days they want and what we have now even while the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee is still taking evidence! So much for strengthening the role of Parliament... As we have reported on OK (and we were not alone) the Director of Public Prosecutions carefully explained to the Committee there is no need for a longer period because 28 days is sufficient to know if there are grounds to charge someone. At the same time, there are good reasons to believe that at least three people who the police now regard as innocent were been held for nearly a month without charge. This is a state crime. The campaign launched by Sunny Hundal, which personally am proud to support, NOT A DAY LONGER could not have been more timely. You can sign up to it on facebook here.