Roll Back the Tide on Detention

5.17.00pm GMT Sat 8th Dec 2007

Chris Huhne has slammed the proposal of the Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, for a further extension of the period of detention without charge to 42 days as "a real abuse of our civil liberties".

Chris Huhne said:

"The Government's proposals are a real abuse of our civil liberties. There is no excuse for holding people longer than 14 days without charge. No other country - including the USA - locks people up for this length of time.

What we need is a Freedom Bill to roll back the Government's incursions on our liberties - as well as putting detention without charge back to 14 days we need to restore jury trials and ensure the freedom to demonstrate and protest."