Another Call for Terror Suspect Hold Period Extension
Yet another call has been made for the current 28 day limit on the detainment of terror suspects to be extended. This time, the urge for change came from the Liberal Democrat Peer Lord Carlile of Berriew, who highlighted the "small number" of instances where the current temporal threshold would be insufficient.
While the UK government is presently consulting on prolonging the suspect hold period, the Conservative Leader David Cameron has pledged to stand against any notion of it being extended unless substantial evidence in its favour can be found.
"I think there is a small number of cases, possibly a very small number but of very important cases, for which a 28-day period may be insufficient", said Lord Carlile, in comments made to The Politics Show - broadcast on BBC1.
One example of when an extension could have been useful, he detailed, is that of Kafeel Ahmed – one of those involved in the attack on Glasgow Airport earlier this year. The incident in question involved a Jeep Cherokee being driven into the side of the airport's Terminal 1, after it has been set on fire. It followed by a day the discovery of a pair of car bombs in London.
Mr Ahmed's severe injuries ultimately claimed his life, but, according to Lord Carlile, after he had "lived for 28-days plus". "Now had he survived...", he added, "...it is possible time for interviewing him would have run out before he regained consciousness.
Complexity of Terrorists' Plans Validates Extension to Suspect Hold Period
Additionally, he said, the complex web of terrorist's plans - typically using "very carefully securitised"computers - could take a significant length of time to unravel. Alternatively, the intricate forensic analyses demanded to investigate other cases could also surpass the 28 day limit.
Regarding to what limit the detainment period should be extended, Lord Carlile highlighted how there was "no answer". However, he is due to issue a report in the near future on the subject.
"I'm concerned about the quality of the process and what I shall be emphasising (in the report) is increasing the judicial scrutiny of the process so those who are innocent are protected from arbitrariness by the state", he said.
Source - Security International's Current Affairs Correspondent
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