Police 'broke law not telling suspects why they were held'

POLICE broke the law by holding the terror suspects for up to two weeks without revealing the allegations against them, today's report reveals.

In a highly critical study of police actions, Lord Carlile states that officers were legally required to tell "promptly" the men detained in the raids which offences they were suspected of committing.

Instead, he says that they acted illegally by telling the suspects only that they were being held on suspicion of being "a terrorist" when there is no provision in law to justify prolonged detention on such vague grounds.

The report states: "At some point between arrest and the end of his detention period the suspect must be told the offence or offences of which he is suspected."

Lord Carlile says all counter-terrorist police should now be given training on the law.

Several of the men detained are now understood to have begun legal action against the police for wrongful detention.