Terrorism Act 2006 (Disapplication of Section 25) Order 2007

My Lords, I was unfortunately not here for the Minister’s speech, and I apologise for that. But I must intervene because, as the noble and learned Lord knows, we have a difference of opinion on this. There has to be a recognition that the period is up to 28 days, and that in each case renewal takes place week by week and is reviewed by a judge. I refer to the case of the Indian who turned Muslim, whose name I forget, who was recently sentenced. The police, when looking at the contents of the many flats and houses that he controlled—something they could not do until he was arrested—found computers containing layers and layers of information and an enormous quantity of evidence that needed to be sifted, much of which was not only in Arabic but in peculiar, special forms of Arabic. There is no doubt in my mind—as there would be no doubt in the minds of the special services—that time is needed to look at such material, which cannot be accessed until the arrest has been made. We must maintain the principle that cases have to be reviewed week by week by a judge, as recommended by the noble Lord, Lord Carlile of Berriew and the other noble judge. They both said that they felt that serious application of good judges, who were perhaps specially trained for this, would solve the problem. There would be justice if such people were looking week by week at a situation in which the forces of law and order needed time to look through vast quantities of material. The forces of law and order also need time when they are following up clues to be able to talk to other services, and—surprise, surprise—the Pakistanis or Indonesians will not necessarily respond within10 days or so to requests for confirmation. There can be nothing but justice for the public—as well as others—in giving the maximum possible chance to the forces of law and order to establish proof and evidence that can take people to court. If time is required for that, and there is a proper review every week, I contend strongly that the Government are in the right and that we should extend the time limit. I would prefer to see it extended further, but I know that there is probably not much hope of that.