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Smith plans 42-day terror limit BBC Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has announced plans to extend the period that terrorism suspects can be held without charge for up to 42 days. In an attempt to win over critics, it is planned to give MPs a role in any decision to let police hold suspects for more than the current 28-day limit. Ms Smith said 42 days would be needed only in "exceptional circumstances". Ministers have come up against strong opposition from Tories, Lib Dems and some Labour MPs over terror detentions. 'Murder and mayhem' Ms Smith told the BBC there was a "serious and consistent threat from terrorism".
She added: "In order to ensure we prosecute people who want to cause murder and mayhem on our streets, we may well need to hold them longer to do that." Ms Smith also said: "We need to legislate now for the exceptional circumstances that there might be in the future." The home secretary will have the power to set a 42-day limit. Ms Smith said: "To emphasise that the higher limit is exceptional, it must be approved by Parliament within 30 days." Ministers recently proposed extending the terror detention limit to 56 or 58 days.
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