(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - The majority of people in Britain oppose a law that would allow police to detain terror suspects for up to six weeks, according to a poll by ICM Research and the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust. 61 per cent of respondents think people who may be innocent or guilty of a terrorist offence should be in detention for no longer than four weeks.

Conversely, 36 per cent of respondents agree with the proposed increased limit of 42 days.

In November 2005, the Labour government’s original anti-terrorism bill was defeated in the House of Commons after a 322-291 vote. A revised version of the legislation—which allows for a 28-day detention period for suspected terrorists instead of the 90-day period sought by then British prime minister Tony Blair—was introduced and passed immediately following the conclusion of the first vote.

Earlier this year, Labour party leader and British prime minister Gordon Brown announced that the government would amend existing legislation to increase the time police can hold a terrorist suspect without charge from 28 days to 42 days.

On Jun. 11, the House of Commons voted 315-306 to pass the proposed legislation. The bill must be ratified by the House of Lords in order to become law.

On Jul. 9, Stuart Weir, director of Democratic Audit at Essex University, referred to this survey’s results, saying, "These findings show little public appetite for the prolonged detention of terrorist suspects without charge. (...) As debate on the government’s 42-day proposals continues, they show that Gordon Brown’s assertion that a majority of people back them is ill-founded."

Polling Data

How long do you think people who may be innocent or guilty of a terrorist offence should be held in detention for questioning before they are charged or released?

Source: ICM Research / Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,021 British adults, conducted from Jul. 4, to Jul. 6, 2008. No margin of error was provided.

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