Police to push for new terrorism powers

British police yesterday called for sweeping new powers - including holding terrorism suspects for up to three months without charge - after a second wave of bombings struck London's transport system.

Ken Jones, head of the Association of Chief Police Officers' (ACPO) terrorism committee, said after meeting Prime Minister Tony Blair: "Our counter-terrorism legislation is sophisticated and robust - yet practice and experience shows us that nothing is flawless."

The Government has said it will toughen anti-terrorism laws to include making it an offence to prepare acts of terrorism, incite criminal acts and provide training in the use of dangerous substances.

But ACPO, which co-ordinates the activities of the country's 44 police forces, has gone further. It has called for an extension to the present 14-day period allowed for questioning terrorism suspects before they either have to be charged or released.

It also proposed "all premises" search warrants that would allow police to search any property linked to a terrorist suspect and allow the security services to obtain warrants to act overseas.

It also called for powers to attack specified websites and for using them for terrorist purposes to be made an offence.

- REUTERS