Terror suspects to be held under 'house arrest'

In a statement to the House of Commons today, Home Secretary Charles Clarke has proposed replacing current detention without trial of foreign terror suspects with "control orders".

The decision to overhaul the powers of detention in the Government's Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act comes following a Law Lords ruling in December that detaining foreign nationals without trial was in contravention of European human rights laws.

Most of the foreign detainees held under UK anti-terrorism legislation are housed in Belmarsh Prison, which has been described by human right activists as the UK's "Guantanamo Bay".

Under the proposed changes to the Act the powers, which include house arrest, tagging, curfews, and communication restrictions, will be extended to cover British nationals. This follows from the finding by the Law Lords that the powers in the Act were discriminatory as they only sought to cover foreign nationals.

In December last year, freshly installed as Home Secretary, Mr Clarke was adamant that the legal measures would remain in force and the men would be detained in prison pending a review of the law.

However, in his first test as Home Secretary, he told the House of Commons that the legislation would be renewed in the New Year, possibly with modifications to address the issues raised by the House of Lords.

Following the Law Lords' ruling, lawyers for the detainees have called for the release of those being held without trial and for the Act to be repealed by Parliament.

Twelve men are being held under the current provisions of the Act introduced after the September 11, 2001 terror attacks on the US.

It is understood that the Home Office are currently attempting to make arrangements for the deportation of a number of the men.

Human rights groups have criticised the proposals as a further erosion of human rights in the UK.

(SP)