London (CNN) -- The British government will not seek an extension of police powers to hold terror suspects for 28 days without charge, it announced Thursday. That means the period will automatically fall to 14 days.
The 28-day rule will expire January 25, Home Office minister Damian Green told the House of Commons.
"The power to detain terrorist suspects for up to 28 days before they were charged or released was meant to be an exceptional power," said Green, a Conservative.
It hasn't been used since July 2007, "despite the many terrorists arrested since then," he said.
The government will prepare a draft law to push the limit back up to 28 days and keep it on file in case it thinks the law needs to be changed again, he said.
The Home Office, which is responsible for domestic security, announced last July that it would review the 28-day detention rule, which was put in place by the previous government.
