I have remained neutral about the question of should or should we not extend the detention limit from 28- to 42-days. Last night the government won the vote on 42-days by 315 to 306 MPs.

A look at how MPs voted is interesting, Ann Widdecombe was the only Conservative to vote with the government whilst the whole of the DUP which includes the Rev Ian Paisley. What on earth is happening in the world when a Labour government agrees with these loonies? It all makes me very uncomfortable.

When you think about it 6-weeks is along time to hold someone without charge – in comparison you can only be held for 4 days without if you are suspected of murder. Personally, I suspect if the police cannot build a case in the current limit of 28-days then they are not going to in 6 weeks. A review of the laws in general would be more beneficial, for instance, the BBC list these suggestions.

Changes being made to the powers to question someone after they have been charged. But there are calls for this power to be extended yet further to allow police to charge someone earlier and then interview them as more evidence comes to light.

Others argue more secret intelligence could solve the problem – such as showing juries phone taps and other internet intercepts.

Another more controversial proposal is to allow terror suspects to be charged on a lower evidence threshold. That charge would then be argued in the court, with the Crown saying they can build their case more fully in the weeks to come.

I leave the last word to Amnesty International.

Amnesty International renewed its call to the UK government to listen to the large number of MPs who voted against this dangerous and ill-conceived measure, and to the wide range of experts who have expressed the most pressing concerns about it, and to abandon it once and for all.

“Instead of allowing people to be held for longer and longer without being charged, the UK government should be committing itself to a root-and-branch review of all counter-terrorism legislation in the UK, with the aim of bringing it into line with basic international human rights standards – standards which protect the rights of individuals, including the right to be treated fairly and the right not to be detained arbitrarily for a prolonged period of time,” Amnesty International said.

“The idea that countering terrorism somehow requires removing or eroding basic guarantees of individual liberty and physical safety is a dangerous and discredited one; the government should reject it once and for all”.

So, I have just convinced myself that 42-days is a bad idea.