Police want unlimited detention without trial

Police chiefs are demanding the power to lock up terror suspects indefinitely, it has emerged.

Reopening the debate over detention without trial, the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) called for some suspects to be held for "as long as it takes".

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.

"We are now arguing for judicially supervised detention for as long as it takes," he told the Observer.

"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.

Gordon Brown should not give them this right. If they were guilty they should be sent to trial. They should not be sent to prison forever just because they suspect they might be guilty of something.

I am even iffy about the 28 day period. I am not sure it should even be that long but I definitely think locking people up forever without trial is unnecessary. If they are guilty they should prove it in a court of law with a jury finding them guilty.