Government must drop 42 day plans

11.10.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 30th Apr 2008

Home Office officials have considered averting a Commons defeat on 42-day detention by suggesting judges could be empowered to order the release of those being held for more than the current limit of 28 days under control order or a tag, even though they would remain technically subject to a 42-day detention order.

Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesperson Chris Huhne MP said "So-called concessions from the Government cannot disguise the fact that it has failed to give any evidence for the need to extend the existing 28-day period of detention without charge. The key point is that the prosecuting authorities already have all the powers and flexibility they need, as Sir Ken Macdonald, the Director of Public Prosecutions, has made repeatedly clear. The Government simply needs to drop this mistaken folly and not concoct face-saving measures to cover up its own incompetence."