Terrorism Act 2006 powers came into force today - except for the controversial 28 days detention without charge !
The BBC and other media are reporting that the controversial Terrorism Act 2006 powers have come into force today.
Why have they missed not taken more notice of the that one of the most controversial parts of the Act has not commenced today, i.e. Section 23 Extension of period of detention of terrorist suspects to Section 25
which extends the period of "pre-charge detention" from 14 days to 28 days has not been commenced i.e. has not yet been brought into law ?
The Statutory Instrument 2006 No. 1013 (C.32) - The Terrorism Act 2006 (Commencement No. 1) Order 2006 actually commences everything except for Sections 23 to Section 25 and the consequential amendments to the Terrorism Act 2000 and the Criminal Justice Act 2003.
Has Home Secretary Charles Clarke done this deliberately, or have his officials simply given him an Order to sign which he has not read properly ?
UPDATE: The BBC report now says:
Plans to double the amount of time suspects can be held without charge to 28 days will come into force later after consultation with police chiefs.
If there really was such a pressing National Security need for 90 days or 60 days or even 28 days detention without charge, then why is there any delay for "consultation" ? Surely the Police and the Home Office should have had their plans and procedures and budgets sorted out before the Act got Royal Assent ?
UPDATE:
All of the controversial Terrorism Act 2006, including the 28 days detention without charge has now been commenced, as of July 25th 2006 via:
Statutory Instrument 2006 No. 1936 (C. 64) - The Terrorism Act 2006 (Commencement No. 2) Order 2006
Comments
The 28 days will be back and next time it'll be nearer 90 days. Those evil terrorists are everywhere you know, but not behind the world's biggest 'defence' budgets.
Posted by: Name | April 18, 2006 7:10 PM