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UK internment plan 'flawed'

Blair's government is looking to crackdown on suspect terrorists

LONDON, England -- Proposals to tighten British powers for detaining terrorist suspects could backfire, the opposition party has said.

Home Secretary David Blunkett laid down plans for the emergency powers, in response to the September 11 strikes, in Britain's parliament on Monday.

He is looking for a temporary opt-out from part of the European Convention on Human Rights which would allow Britain to detain without trial anyone thought to be linked to international terrorism if deporting to their own country would endanger their lives.

The debate will be held next week, but shadow home secretary Oliver Letwin said the proposals were "flawed" and a "poor substitute" for stricter measures, which could involve deporting suspects.

Letwin added the Conservatives would reluctantly support the government's proposals but it would push for a more effective and targeted approach to the terrorist threat, he said.

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"Blunkett's internment plan is a poor substitute for a truly effective plan to prevent suspected terrorists from entering the UK in the first place and for removing them swiftly once they are here," Letwin was quoted by the UK news agency Press Association as saying.

"There are real dangers in imprisoning terrorist suspects in the UK indefinitely.

"We would be inviting reprisals in which British subjects could be taken hostage and attempts made to trade their freedom for the release of the suspects.

"We would be far better off, and far safer, if the home secretary had the power to deport people who pose a danger to our national security and to extradite those suspected of terrorism to face justice in the countries where they are alleged to have committed their crimes."

The plan has also come in for criticism from civil rights groups.

John Wadham, director of the civil rights group Liberty, said: "This is a fundamental violation of the rule of law, our rights and traditional British values."

The detention power is one in a series of measures being considered by Tony Blair's government.

British Customs officials announced that new powers to stop suspected terrorist organisations using bureau de change for money laundering came into effect on Monday.

"This is a further step in our determined efforts to tackle the financial sources of crime and terrorism," Customs Minister Paul Boateng said in a statement.

"Our aim is clear -- to cut off the funds terrorists and criminals rely on to pay for their operations."

Under the new powers, British customs officers will regulate bureau de change, cheque cashers and money transmission agents and will be allowed to carry out surprise inspections.

All such agencies will have to be registered with British Customs by June 1, 2002, and failure to comply with registration requirements may attract fines of up to £5,000.

British Customs said in the last month officers had arrested 16 people in connection with the laundering of £120 million pounds through five bureau de change and a money transmission agent.