Blair & Blears. Lie on Secret Service support for 90 days detention.

On 5 August, before the Anti-Terrorism bill was published, Mr Blair clearly stated that MI5 was also backing the move to 90 day detention of terror suspects. "We will also examine whether the necessary procedure can be brought about to give us a way of meeting the police and Security Service request that detention, pre-charge of terrorist suspects, be significantly extended," the Prime Minister said at a No 10 Press conference on 5th August. (See posting here “Terror a 12 step program “5/8/05)

Should there be any doubt that this matter would be dealt with , not only at the highest level but across all departments he also stated that

“There will also be a cross government unit staffed by senior hand-picked officials to drive this forward under the guidance of Bill Jeffrey the Intelligence and Security Co-ordinator, and the Cabinet Committee on Counter Terrorism, which I chair. The Home Secretary, with whom I've been talking closely in the past week will have the Cabinet responsibility for co-ordinating this.”

So there can be no doubt that the Secret Services MI5/6/7/8 were well up to speed on discussions and developments – and as limply explained when journalists press for more detail, “were present at meetings where these matters were discussed”.


Last week, the voluble Ms Blears, liberally covered with cosmetics with a bright slash of incarnadined mouth, resembling a blow up sex doll with attitude, spitting venom at assembled, questing journalist, was quoted in the Times (amongst others) , stating that the Security Services, had argued for the 90-day rule.

"The three-month period is what the police and Security Service say is necessary," Ms Blears said last Wednesday at the Home Office when unveiling the details of the final Bill.

The Home Office has not challenged the accuracy of those reported remarks.

However asked by the The Scotsman to reiterate and confirm Ms Blears' comments about the Security Service and the Terrorism Bill, the Home Office last night issued a statement that failed to back up the minister's position.

"This extension is necessary as the police and law enforcement agencies have to take on increasingly complex and international terrorist organisations who make ever-greater use of new technology such as encrypted computers,"

the department said.

The Prime Officers Spokesman at the Daily Conference on October 12th said He (the PM) still believed as he had said explicitly that the case made by the police for 90 days was one that nobody had answered. Curiously omitting the support of the Secret Services.

Charles Clarke , despite the responsibility for co-ordinating this Bill within Cabinet (see above) it appears has remained silent on the matter of Secret Service support for the issue.

So do the Secret Services want the 90 days detention without charge….. well… er .. no.

Why? Because they fear the call to balance this with the disclosure of evidence being revealed in court of wiretapping, interception of e-mails, and other technological wizardry.(ie see pic of methods of dealing with terrorists exposed by Max Spweilmann Photoshop assistant)

So have the Prime Minister and Hazel Blears been telling lies … again ?

Yes.


To read the secret mish mash of Police evidence with the letter from Andy Hayman for 90 days detention , including the most preposterous arguing for a change in the law imagineable read here

For more information when Blair and Blears lied about the advice (or lack of it on the "sunset clause") on the Prevention of Terrorism Act see here


Recent blogs on same topic here