Pre-charge detention refers to the period of time that an individual can be held and questioned by police before being charged with an offence.

In 2008 the Labour Government dropped its controversial plans to extend pre-charge detention to 42 days after Liberty’s award winning Charge or Release campaign.

The fight is not over - the UK already has the longest period of pre-charge detention in the western world. Read our report comparing equivalent limits in other countries.

Under current anti-terror laws you can be locked up and repeatedly questioned by police for up to 28 days without being charged.

28 days pre-charge detention is unjust, unnecessary, and it doesn’t make us safer.

- There is no evidence that the police need longer than 14 days to gather information for a criminal trial. In fact no one has been held for longer than 14 days since the Government dropped its controversial and misguided proposals for a 42 day limit back in 2008.
 
- The UK Government holds terror suspects longer than any comparative democracy. Find out more.

- 28 days is a long time to be held in prison without being able to challenge the evidence against you. In fact you might not even be told why you are being held. 28 days pre-charge detention also undermines British traditions such as the presumption of innocence and the right to a fair trial.
 
- It is counter-productive - lengthy pre-charge detention divides communities, it could make us less safe.
 
- There are alternatives to lengthy pre-charge detention. Removing the ban on intercept (phone tap) evidence in criminal trials, allowing post-charge questions and hiring more foreign language interpreters, amongst other measures, could help in difficult cases. Find out more about the alternatives.

TAKE ACTION NOW

MPs need to vote every year for the 28 day period to be maintained. If they don’t the period reverts to 14 days.

The new Coalition Government made much of its commitment to rights and freedoms. The Government has between now and 25 July 2010 to decide whether it will seek to renew the 28 day period.

Take action – ask your MP to press for the limit to be reduced this summer.

Email your MP

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