Harris Voices Concerns Over Extension to Detention

3.20.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 25th Sep 2007

Commenting on the Government's publication today of its response to the Joint Select Committee on Human Rights report into Counter-Terrorism Policy and Human Rights: 28 days, intercept and post-charge questioning, Dr Evan Harris MP, Liberal Democrat member of the committee, said:

"The Government are still failing to provide any proper evidence that extending pre-charge detention beyond 28 days is necessary."

Pre-charge detention:

"The Government also appear to reject the idea of researching why other countries don't need excessive pre-charge detention. It is not acceptable to deny suspects the right to appear in person before a judge considering an application to detain them without charge on the basis that London traffic would be disrupted by prisoner movements. Since when do we sacrifice fundamental liberties for the sake of reducing traffic congestion.

Intercepting Evidence:

"It is a pity that the government fails to answer specific questions on its previous position on the admissibility of intercept evidence in terrorism trials and also refuses to publish the Public Interest Immunity Plus report that it recently completed.

Control-orders:

"Finally it is bitterly disappointing that the Government has rejected all the recommendations that we made regarding special advocates in control order and deportation hearings since it's critical that these procedures where the defendant is not allowed to know the evidence being used against him, are as fair as possible since otherwise courts may strike them down completely. It was special advocates themselves who told us that they could not provide adequate safeguards under the current rules."

Related Links:

The nineteenth report from the JCHR of session 2006-07, Counter-Terrorism Policy and Human Rights: 28 days, intercept and post-charge questioning.

The Government's response to the report from the JCHR of session 2006-07, Counter-Terrorism Policy and Human Rights: 28 days, intercept and post-charge questioning.