Ex-spy chief opposes planned new terror laws

DAVID STRINGER
Associated Press
July 8, 2008

LONDON (AP) – The ex-head of Britain’s MI5 domestic spy agency said Tuesday she opposes Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s plans for tougher new anti-terrorism laws.

Making her first speech to the House of Lords since being appointed to Britain’s upper legislative chamber last month, Baroness Eliza Manningham-Buller said the government’s plans were unnecessary.

Manningham-Buller was the head of the domestic security service from 2002-2007 and spent more than 30 years working in British intelligence.

Brown wants to increase the time police can hold terror suspects without charging them from 28 days to 42 days.

He argues that police officers need the extra time because of the complexity of scouring computers, trawling phone records and following up leads across the globe.

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This article was posted: Tuesday, July 8, 2008 at 3:55 pm

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