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http://uk.news.yahoo.com/21/20081014/tuk-terror-plot-remark-reckless-6323e80.html
Terror plot remark 'reckless'
Security Minister Lord West of Spithead has been accused of being "reckless in the extreme" after he claimed that the authorities were monitoring "another great plot" by terrorists.
Terror plot remark 'reckless'
The Tories warned that his comments, the day after the Government was forced to abandon its plans to detain terror suspects for up to 42 days without charge, could jeopardise public safety while undermining any police investigation.
There also appeared to be surprise in Whitehall at his remarks, with neither the Home Office nor the Metropolitan Police - which leads nationally on terrorism issues - prepared to confirm his statement.
Tory MP Patrick Mercer, a member of the Commons Home Affairs Committee, said that the minister should "reflect very carefully" on what he had said. "This is an extremely important post," he told Sky News. "I hope that Lord West has time to reflect on his comments and to decide whether they were sensible or not."
A Home Office spokesman said: "We have always been clear - as has the director general of the security service (MI5) - that there are many plots, individuals and groups under investigation. We don't elaborate on specific plots or individuals."
The Metropolitan Police declined to comment altogether.
Lord West's comments came during a statement in House of Lords on Monday night's defeat by peers of provisions in the Counter Terrorism Bill to extend pre-charge detention to 42 days.
"The threat is huge. It dipped slightly and is now rising again... There are large complex plots. We unravelled one, which caused damage to al Qaida and the plots faded slightly," he told peers. "However, another great plot is building up again, which we are monitoring."
Shadow home secretary Dominic Grieve said that such comments could prove counter-productive in the fight against terrorism. "These comments are reckless in the extreme," he said.
"We are told the police have to strike a balance between early arrest during a developing terrorist conspiracy in order to protect the public, and waiting long enough to ensure there is enough evidence to secure a conviction. The minister's comments give us the worst of all worlds - cutting across both objectives."
Terror plot remark 'reckless'
Security Minister Lord West of Spithead has been accused of being "reckless in the extreme" after he claimed that the authorities were monitoring "another great plot" by terrorists.
Terror plot remark 'reckless'
The Tories warned that his comments, the day after the Government was forced to abandon its plans to detain terror suspects for up to 42 days without charge, could jeopardise public safety while undermining any police investigation.
There also appeared to be surprise in Whitehall at his remarks, with neither the Home Office nor the Metropolitan Police - which leads nationally on terrorism issues - prepared to confirm his statement.
Tory MP Patrick Mercer, a member of the Commons Home Affairs Committee, said that the minister should "reflect very carefully" on what he had said. "This is an extremely important post," he told Sky News. "I hope that Lord West has time to reflect on his comments and to decide whether they were sensible or not."
A Home Office spokesman said: "We have always been clear - as has the director general of the security service (MI5) - that there are many plots, individuals and groups under investigation. We don't elaborate on specific plots or individuals."
The Metropolitan Police declined to comment altogether.
Lord West's comments came during a statement in House of Lords on Monday night's defeat by peers of provisions in the Counter Terrorism Bill to extend pre-charge detention to 42 days.
"The threat is huge. It dipped slightly and is now rising again... There are large complex plots. We unravelled one, which caused damage to al Qaida and the plots faded slightly," he told peers. "However, another great plot is building up again, which we are monitoring."
Shadow home secretary Dominic Grieve said that such comments could prove counter-productive in the fight against terrorism. "These comments are reckless in the extreme," he said.
"We are told the police have to strike a balance between early arrest during a developing terrorist conspiracy in order to protect the public, and waiting long enough to ensure there is enough evidence to secure a conviction. The minister's comments give us the worst of all worlds - cutting across both objectives."
