Lib Dems: New staff clash with pre-charge detention policy

The government's commitment to boosting community-police relations where there is a radicalisation risk "runs wholly counter" to its pre-charge detention policy, the Liberal Democrats believe.

Home affairs spokesperson Chris Huhne said seeking to improve relations through the announcement of 300 new officers and staff was a "worthy objective" but said it contrasted with the "heavy-handed" approach to detaining terror suspects without a charge.

"If this approach is going to be effective, the new officers will have to be recruited on the ground from the communities themselves, and not announced from on high by ministers," Mr Huhne warned.

He also questioned whether the funding was "new money" as it was part of last autumn's comprehensive spending review. As a result it would be "churlish" to challenge the announcement as a breach of election rules, Mr Huhne added.