The British government’s plans to allow terrorist suspects to be held for up to 42 days without charge prompted strong criticism from political opponents and civil liberties groups.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith introduced the new measures to parliament last month as part of a package of new anti-terrorism proposals that also include expanding the use of DNA sampling in terrorism investigations and allowing post-charge questioning of terrorist suspects.

But the most controversial plan was the increase in the pre-charge detention limit from the current 28 days.

Jacqui Smith has said the 42-day limit would not be standard in all cases but would be a “reserve power” available for authorities to use in exceptionally complex cases, such as those which require the cooperation of foreign governments. Opponents swiftly criticised the measure as unnecessary.

“The UK already has the longest period of pre-charge detention in the Western world, and there is no evidence that a further extension will make us any safer,” human rights group Liberty said in a statement.

Liberty called the proposals unjust, and said they lacked strong parliamentary or judicial oversight. Human Rights Watch spoke to Islamic Times and said there was nothing to prevent Smith from using the “reserve power” repeatedly for new charges with the same suspect.

“This raises the potential for rolling periods of 42-day pre-charge detention of individuals in relation to terrorism cases,” the group said.

A Home offi ce spokeswoman said the government had consulted widely with civil liberties groups and that the 42-day maximum took their concerns into account. The spokeswoman said the bill was only in its fi rst stages and that a debate on it in the House of Commons was at least several months away.

A previous government proposal to raise detention limits led to former Prime Minister Tony Blairs’s fi rst parliamentary defeat in 2005 where he failed to persuade the House of Commons to approve holding terrorist suspects for up to 90 days without charge. The Commons ended up approving an amended measure to allow the current 28-day limit.

The Home Offi ce spokeswoman said there had not yet been a case in which police felt they needed longer than 28 days to bring charges however, opponents said the proposals send the wrong message and may backfi re.