Brown to Expand Police-State Anti-Terror Laws

June 4 (LPAC) - Yesterday, June 3, British Prime Minister designate Gordon Brown indicated he would seek the following measures against suspected terrorists:

* An extension of the 28-day limit on detention without charge to 90 days. Tony Blair had wanted to extend this to 90 days, but had to limit it to 28 after a revolt in the House of Commons. Under Brown there would be promised weekly judicial review in an attempt to co-opt Commons' opposition.

* Making terrorism an aggravating factor in sentencing, giving judges greater power to punish terrorists within existing criminal law.

* Ending the ban on questioning terrorists once they have been charged under judicial review.

* Moving towards allowing wiretap evidence to be admissible evidence pending a Privy Council review of the law. Brown is clearly not distancing himself from Blair on the "war on terror."