09/10/2007

Terror Plots 'Increasing' Warns Met Boss

The number of terrorist plots in the UK is increasing, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair has warned.

Sir Ian told the Home Affairs Select Committee that the number of people involved and the scale of the plots was "mounting year by year".

The Met Police chief said that although there had not yet been a need case where it was needed to detain terror suspects for more than 28 days, an increase to between 50 and 90-day detentions would be "sensible", because it was only a matter of time before it was needed.

Former Prime Minister Tony Blair's bid to introduce a 90-day detention period was defeated in the Commons in 2005, due to opposition from Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, as well as some Labour MPs.

Sir Ian had also called for a 90-day detention period to be introduced in the same year.

The government has said that it is time to re-examine the 28-day limit, due to the nature of the threat of terrorism.

(KMcA)

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