adi 101
28th February 2005, 19:18
Britain is threatened by "several hundred'' people within its borders who are planning terrorist attacks, the Prime Minister has warned.
Defending the controversial new measures in the Prevention of Terrorism Bill - due to complete its remaining Commons stages tonight - Tony Blair said the security services and police were adamant that they need increased powers to combat the threat.
"We are being advised by the police and the security services, there is no distinction between the two of them. They are absolutely on the same line," Mr Blair told BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour.
What they say is you have got to give us powers in between mere surveillance of these people - there are several hundred of them in this country who we believe are engaged in plotting or trying to commit terrorist acts - you have got to give us power in between just surveying them and being able, being sure enough of the proof, to prosecute them beyond reasonable doubt.
"And these will be restrictions on their liberty that we will use only in the most limited circumstances.
"But we genuinely believe that they are necessary in order to protect the country.''
Home Secretary Charles Clarke has come under intense pressure to give ground on the Bill.
The Tories and the Liberal Democrats have warned that the legislation will be wrecked when it goes to the House of Lords unless the Government is prepared to offer major concessions.
Critics across the political spectrum have denounced the proposed powers for the Home Secretary to issue control orders placing terrorist suspects under house arrest as an attack on fundamental civil liberties.
Mr Clarke is setting out the reasoning behind the legislation in an explanatory document to be sent to all MPs and peers ahead of today's debate.
Ministers are confident that the Prevention of Terrorism Bill will complete its remaining Commons stages tonight - despite expectations of a significant Labour rebellion.
However, it could face a far rougher ride when it goes to the Lords, where the Government has no majority.
Liberal Democrat spokesman Mark Oaten said he detected signs of movement on the key question of judicial involvement in the issuing of control orders under the legislation.
But Home Office minister Caroline Flint signalled that the Government remained wedded to the principle that they should actually be issued by the Home Secretary rather than a judge.
The Government was forced to bring in the new Bill after the House of Lords ruled last year that its detention without trial of foreign suspects under existing anti-terrorism laws was illegal.
Ministers have warned that unless the new legislation is passed, they will be forced to release the suspects currently held in Belmarsh and Woodhill prisons without any restriction whatsoever.
Defending the controversial new measures in the Prevention of Terrorism Bill - due to complete its remaining Commons stages tonight - Tony Blair said the security services and police were adamant that they need increased powers to combat the threat.
"We are being advised by the police and the security services, there is no distinction between the two of them. They are absolutely on the same line," Mr Blair told BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour.
What they say is you have got to give us powers in between mere surveillance of these people - there are several hundred of them in this country who we believe are engaged in plotting or trying to commit terrorist acts - you have got to give us power in between just surveying them and being able, being sure enough of the proof, to prosecute them beyond reasonable doubt.
"And these will be restrictions on their liberty that we will use only in the most limited circumstances.
"But we genuinely believe that they are necessary in order to protect the country.''
Home Secretary Charles Clarke has come under intense pressure to give ground on the Bill.
The Tories and the Liberal Democrats have warned that the legislation will be wrecked when it goes to the House of Lords unless the Government is prepared to offer major concessions.
Critics across the political spectrum have denounced the proposed powers for the Home Secretary to issue control orders placing terrorist suspects under house arrest as an attack on fundamental civil liberties.
Mr Clarke is setting out the reasoning behind the legislation in an explanatory document to be sent to all MPs and peers ahead of today's debate.
Ministers are confident that the Prevention of Terrorism Bill will complete its remaining Commons stages tonight - despite expectations of a significant Labour rebellion.
However, it could face a far rougher ride when it goes to the Lords, where the Government has no majority.
Liberal Democrat spokesman Mark Oaten said he detected signs of movement on the key question of judicial involvement in the issuing of control orders under the legislation.
But Home Office minister Caroline Flint signalled that the Government remained wedded to the principle that they should actually be issued by the Home Secretary rather than a judge.
The Government was forced to bring in the new Bill after the House of Lords ruled last year that its detention without trial of foreign suspects under existing anti-terrorism laws was illegal.
Ministers have warned that unless the new legislation is passed, they will be forced to release the suspects currently held in Belmarsh and Woodhill prisons without any restriction whatsoever.