The 42-day detention debate came to a head yesterday when the government campaign for the extension of pre-charge detention to 42 days was narrowly passed by 9 votes. Both the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats voted against the Bill, with the government facing a huge backbench rebellion; only being saved through a pay-off with the Democratic Unionist’s reputed to have cost close to £1.2 billion.

Since 2000, when the limit stood at 48 hours, the law will have been changed three times, in 2003 to 14 days, in 2006 to 28 days, and now in 2008 with 42 days. Does this mean that 42 days will be final change to the pre-charge limit? I doubt it. How long will it be before the Police or those looking to restrict civil liberties further ask for an increase to 56?

If the 42-day limit is upheld in the Lords then the UK will have the longest legal pre-charge detention limit in the world with 42 days, compared to a limit of 48 hours in the US, 5 days in Spain and 7 and a half days in Turkey.

Benjamin Franklin is commonly agreed to have said that:

“Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety”

I think that the government should heed Franklin’s words and not let the justified fear of terrorism dictate unjustified means of preventing it.