UK lawmakers say longer pre-charge detention likely

LONDON, July 3 (Reuters) British police powers to hold terrorism suspects without charge for 28 days might need to be extended in the future, but not to the 90 days police want, lawmakers said today.

But the all-party Home Affairs Committee insisted such a move had to be handled tactfully to avoid upsetting British Muslims -- already complaining of feeling under siege -- and should not introduced by the back door of secondary legislation.

''The growing number of cases and the increase in suspects monitored by the police and security services make it entirely possible, and perhaps increasingly likely, that there will be cases that do provide that justification,'' it said in a report.

''We therefore believe that the 28-day limit may well prove inadequate in the future,'' it added.

The committee report came as police stepped up security in the run-up to the first anniversary of the four suicide bomb attacks on the London transport system on July 7 that killed 52 people and maimed and injured hundreds more.

''We are convinced that the nature of the threat has changed, and so therefore has the response,'' committee chairman and Labour parliamentarian John Denham said.

''Earlier arrest, which means longer detention, is serving an important new function in disrupting and preventing terrorism.'' Endorsing the 28-day pre-charge detention period but rejecting the 90-day, the committee said any extension would have to be carefully considered by an independent body and each case subject to scrutiny.

A revolt by members of parliament from Prime Minister Tony Blair's Labour party last November torpedoed Blair's bid to force through a new law allowing police to hold a terrorism suspect for up to three months without charge, limiting it instead to one month.

Police and the government have since made clear they want to increase that period.

The committee was sharply critical of the government's lack of preparation in trying to push through the 90-day detention law, saying it had never critically examined the case made by the police in the wake of the July 7 attacks.

''On an issue like this the trust and confidence of the public and the Muslim community specifically is absolutely crucial. We cannot afford divisive arguments,'' he said.

''Any new legislation should not propose longer than 28 days' detention unless the evidence is compelling, and we propose a new independent body to keep this under review,'' he added.

The committee proposed that banned telephone tap evidence should be allowed in terrorism cases, and that in cases where preventative measures were necessary but charges not possible other avenues should be explored.

It supported the use of control orders, tagging and bail to disrupt conspiracies and protect the public.

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