Clarke seeks deportation deal on terror suspects
Charles Clarke is hoping to secure a deal with foreign governments that would pave the way for the deportation of foreign terror suspects being held in British jails.
In his first interview since becoming Home Secretary, Mr Clarke said he was hoping for assurances that any suspects deported from the UK would not face torture or death sentences.
There are currently 12 people being held indefinitely in the UK under anti-terrorist legislation.
Before Christmas, the Law Lords ruled that the detention of the 12 men was unlawful.
Campaign groups, lawyers and other politicians are calling for the men to either be freed or tried.
The Government has always maintained that it could not deport the men as they might face torture upon their return, but the men were free to leave the UK at any point they wished.
But, in an interview with The Times newspaper, the new Home Secretary said that they were now looking again at this option.
Mr Clarke said: “I think we should be prosecuting much more energetically our ability to deport the individuals concerned to the countries from which they come, in all these particular cases from North Africa.
“We are actively pursuing that in collaboration with the Foreign Secretary in a very positive way.”
The Government is expected to make security a major issue at the next general election, which puts added pressure on the Home Office to resolve these issues surrounding its anti-terror legislation.
