42-day detention dropped as unworkable in UK

The 42-day detention law, which would have extended the amount of time a person suspected of terrorism could be held without charge, has reportedly been dropped from Prime Minister Gordon Brown's agenda. The issue has been enormously controversial in the UK across party lines, even prompting a Tory MP to resign his seat in protest at it being considered earlier this year. Now with Brown undertaking a drastic cabinet reshuffle, it appears he may be revamping his government's policy agenda as well. With the economy taking center stage, it has likely made terrorism-related issues seem comparatively less important. url="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article4887653.ece"]

Gordon Brown is preparing for a humiliating climbdown over his proposal to hold terrorist suspects for 42 days after being told that it will be defeated in the House of Lords.

Ministers admit privately that there is not “a cat in Hell’s chance” of the legislation, which returns to the Lords this week, being passed into law.

The Government has decided against using the Parliament Act to force the measure through after peers reject it, The Times has learnt. That decision will effectively confine the controversial proposal — which the Prime Minister fought tooth and nail to get through a Commons vote in June — to the legislative dustbin.

The Terrorism Act 2006 increased the pre-charge detention limit from 14 to 28 days. The imminent abandonment of the proposal to extend this further to 42 days comes after mounting criticism from senior figures in the fight against terrorism.

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