POLICE chiefs are demanding the power to lock up terror suspects indefinitely.
The Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) has called for some suspects to be held for “as long as it takes”.
Tony Blair was defeated in the Commons two years ago when he tried to introduce a 90-day detention period. Instead MPs backed an increase to just 28 days.
But Acpo president Ken Jones said police were struggling to operate within the 28-day limit, stressing the global scale of terror investigations and the need to arrest suspects early.
He said: “We are now arguing for judicially supervised detention for as long as it takes.
“We are up against the buffers on the 28-day limit.
“We understand people will be concerned and nervous, but we need to create a system with sufficient judicial checks and balances which holds people, but no longer than a day necessary.”
The idea is said to have been discussed with Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who has signalled his intention to re-visit the subject of detention without trial this year.
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