Richard Burden MP: Fighting for a fair deal for everyone in Birmingham Northfield

11 June 2008

Detention without charge -

The Counter Terrorism Bill was debated in Parliament today. As you might expect, the focus of much of this debate was on the government’s proposal to extend detention without charge from a maximum of 28 days up to 42 days.

Decisions like this are far from easy. Terrorism is a really serious issue and I don't think that there is any MP in the House of Commons who doesn't feel a very personal responsibility to do what we can to protect the public from terrorist attack. But we also have a responsibility to make sure the laws we pass actually achieve what we want them to achieve, and that we do what we think is right.

At the heart of our democracy there are some principles that I think are pretty fundamental. One of those is that if you are held by the police for long periods you should at least know why you are being held. You should at least be charged with something. Of course you need emergency actions in emergency situations – but we already have laws that allow for this.

All along I have listened to Ministers and colleagues and also asked them to listen to what people like me have been saying. I think people elect MPs to Parliament to talk about these kinds of issues seriously. To listen to different view points and then cast our votes. Ministers have made some important changes to the Bill and have built in safeguards that are real.

However, I have yet to hear compelling evidence why we need these new powers on top of those already there and so I had to vote against the 42 days proposal. That was a difficult decision to take – especially as it put me on the other side of the argument from the government I support.