in both lobbies. Extending the period of detention without charge A government amendment to the bill, proposed on 9 November but rejected by the Commons, would have meant that suspects arrested under suspicion of having conducted, or being engaged in planning, terrorist crimes could be held for a period of 90 days before being charged with a crime. This was a considerable increase over the existing term permitted by the Criminal Justice Act 2003, which allowed for a maximum 14 days' detention before charges were laid; contrast also to the maximum of four days' detention without charge allowed in cases of murder, rape and complex fraud. Under the new scheme, detentions would be reviewed every seven days by a judge sitting in-camera, who would rule as to whether the ongoing detention was justified. The Government argued that, given the suicidal nature of the threat posed by Al-Qaeda and related groups, it was no longer prudent for investigators to wait while a conspiracy developed. Instead, they reasoned, it was necessary for police to arrest terrorist suspects immediately, while police enquiries were at a relatively immature stage. The proposed 90-day detention period was necessary, the Government argued, as forensic testing and questioning of the suspect could not be completed within the allotted fortnight. At the Report stage the Commons rejected 90 days and voted through an amendment for 28 days' detention, thereby doubling the period allowed under the Terrorism Act 2000. The amendment was proposed by David Winnick MP. This power to detain for 28 days was formally brought into force on 25 July 2006. The 90-day limit was publicly advocated by Gordon Brown on 10 October 2006. Police advocacy of 90-day detention The Government repeatedly made the point that they had been advised by the police that 90 days was a necessary term of detention to prevent terrorism: Andy Hayman, Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police wrote to the Home Secretary on 6 October 2005 to express his view that 90 days was required. The letter makes the following arguments: In contrast to terrorist acts perpetrated by the Irish Republican Army—who made efforts to restrict the number of casualties for political reasons—"modern terrorists" (the letter does not directly reference Muslim extremists) seek to maximise casualties. Therefore, a policy of attempting to catch terrorists "red-handed" (in possession of evidence, e.g. explosives) proves unacceptably risky. Hence suspects should be arrested earlier in the