Amnesty International have released a letter signed by a host of high-profile figures voicing their opposition to the Government’s plans to extend pre-charge detention limits to 42 days in the Counter-Terrorism Bill, before it gets its second reading in Parliament today.

Signatories to the letter include Patrick Stewart, Vivienne Westwood, Colin Firth, A C Grayling, Iain Banks, Ken Loach, Sir David Hare, Nick Broomfield, John le Carre and Labour peer Lord Ahmed.

The letter calls on the Government to abandon proposals in the Counter-Terrorism Bill to further extend pre-charge detention to 42 days. It states that extending the limit would damage community relations and undermine human rights protected by international law. It concludes:

“Habeas corpus, which safeguards people from arbitrary detention by the state, is the bedrock of British justice. A convincing case that it should be eroded has not been made by the Government. The case that it should remain has been made for nearly 800 years.”

Amnesty International UK Director Kate Allen said:

“‘The consensus against 42 days detention without charge is growing stronger and stronger. Despite a serious effort by the Home Office to ‘sell’ these proposals, they have failed to make a convincing case.

“MPs should refuse to be part of this assault on UK civil liberties and oppose any extension of pre-charge detention limits. There is a real opportunity to defeat this Bill and take a stand for human rights.

“The British public can do their bit too – we shouldn’t sit back and let our rights be taken away. We must tell the government that these draconian measures are a step too far.

“Police in this country should not be allowed to lock someone up for six weeks without even charging them with a crime. Habeas corpus has long been a fundamental principle of Britain’s judicial system and it should not be undermined.”

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith MP has insisted that the increase to 42 days is needed and “would only come into force in exceptional circumstances, and would only last for a temporary period before automatically lapsing”.  Making the case for the measure on the Compass website in February, she said:

“[The measure] would be subject to judicial and parliamentary oversight throughout.

“Countering terrorism and preventing violent extremism is one of the most important priorities for government.

“It is an effort which goes much broader and deeper than the provisions of the Bill, bringing together central and local government, police and enforcement agencies, faith and community organisations to prevent people becoming terrorists in the first place by challenging extremist ideology and by supporting communities in rooting out its influence.”