Dilemma faced by democratic societies

LETTER - With regard to the David Davis resignation, it seems to me that throughout much of the discussion about time limits, civil liberty, Habeas Corpus and the Magna Carta, the real and most pressing issue - that of fighting terrorism and the protection of innocent life - has been seemingly forgotten.

It must surely be obvious that the Government is not seeking to curtail the liberty of innocent people. Rather, it is the liberty of the terrorists that is at stake.

The dilemma for any democratic government is this: if they do not fight terrorism then they endanger the freedoms and liberties of innocent citizens.

If however, they do avail themselves of those means or, as in the case of 42 days, bring in seemingly draconian measures, then they appear to endanger the very freedoms and liberties which they are seeking to protect.

To my mind the answer is straightforward. If the terrorist threat is of an extraordinary or an isolated nature then such a manifestation may well be insufficient to justify taking any kind of significant action that would threaten civil liberties. In which case there would be no need for the 42 days detention without charge.

If the threat of terrorism becomes by far the bigger danger to freedom and liberty in our country, then the time has come to take very firm action which may include an extension of the time limit for detention without charge to 42 days. An extension not only limited to 42 days but perhaps even beyond.

I believe that we have already reached that point.

Cllr George Ashcroft, Conservative Member, Brookside Ward, Telford