Europe puts the UK's 42-day rule under human rights microscope

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

A European human rights watchdog is to investigate the House of Commons' decision to allow 42-day detention of terrorist suspects.

A report on whether the rule breaches the Human Rights Convention is to be drawn up by the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly, made up of national MPs from 47 countries.

The move, approved at the start of the assembly's summer session in Strasbourg, comes before House of Lords consideration of the vote.

A debate on the assembly's findings is expected in late September.

Michael Hancock, a Liberal Democrat MP and one of Westminster's 18 delegates on the assembly, said he welcomed the investigation as the Commons vote approving the change had been 'a disgrace to our democratic system'.

He told the Assembly: "This issue is very relevant to the whole principle the Council of Europe stands for. It goes against the grain of everything this Assembly stands for. In any other country it would be opposed immediately."

He said the issue was now going before the House of Lords and it would be "opportune" to have the Assembly express a view on the matter first.

Labour MP Denis MacShane said, however, that it was 'wholly improper' to debate the issue in the assembly while it was still going through the UK democratic process.

The Assembly's Legal Affairs Committee is likely to appoint the report's author before the end of the week, with a debate on the findings expected in late September - adding to Prime Minister Gordon Brown's hurdles in getting the legislation through.

Tory MP for Spelthorne David Wilshire said the UK Parliament had approved "giving police powers to knock on your door at six in the morning, take you to a police cell and lock you up for six weeks - 42 days - without telling you what you are accused of or giving you the evidence they have against you".

It was "something the Soviet regimes of the past would have been proud of".

Mr Wilshire said he was ashamed of the decision which, he insisted, breached the Human Rights Convention: "We (the Assembly) must have an opinion on it."