Critics slam new UK anti-terrorism plan

LONDON, England (CNN) -- The British government's plans to allow terrorist suspects to be held for up to 42 days without charge prompted strong criticism from political opponents and civil liberties groups Friday.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith introduced the new measures to parliament Thursday as part of a package of new anti-terrorism proposals that also include expanding the use of DNA sampling in terrorism investigations and allowing post-charge questioning of terrorist suspects.

But the most controversial plan was the increase in the pre-charge detention limit from the current 28 days.

Smith has said the 42-day limit would not be standard in all cases but would be a "reserve power" available for authorities to use in exceptionally complex cases, such as those which require the cooperation of foreign governments.

Opponents swiftly criticized the measure as unnecessary.

"The UK already has the longest period of pre-charge detention in the Western world, and there is no evidence that a further extension will make us any safer," human rights group Liberty said in a statement.

Liberty called the proposals unjust, and said they lacked strong parliamentary or judicial oversight.

Human Rights Watch said there was nothing to prevent Smith from using the "reserve power" repeatedly for new charges with the same suspect.

"This raises the potential for rolling periods of 42-day pre-charge detention of individuals in relation to terrorism cases," the group said in a statement.

A Home Office spokeswoman said the government had consulted widely with civil liberties groups and that the 42-day maximum took their concerns into account.

"Police would want more than that, and groups such as Liberty would want less, so we think that 42 days is a good balance," said the spokeswoman, who declined to be named.

The spokeswoman said the bill was only in its first stages and that a debate on it in the House of Commons was at least several months away.

A previous government proposal to raise detention limits led to former Prime Minister Tony Blair's first parliamentary defeat in late 2005.

Only months after the terrorist attacks on the London transit system, Blair failed to persuade the House of Commons to approve holding terrorist suspects for up to 90 days without charge.

The Commons ended up approving an amended measure to allow the current 28-day limit.

The Home Office spokeswoman said there had not yet been a case in which police felt they needed longer than 28 days to bring charges.

"We want to legislate now, because the trend shows that there quite likely will be in the future a time when we'll need it," she said.

Opponents said the proposals send the wrong message and may backfire.

"(Smith's) fixation with extending pre-charge detention risks serving as a recruiting sergeant for terrorism," said David Davis, an opposition Conservative Party member who deals with home affairs.

Human Rights Watch said the measures risked undermining community relations and Britain's image abroad.

Davis and Liberty said they both supported alternatives to extending the detention limit, including allowing the use of wiretap evidence in court. E-mail to a friend

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