Lawyers in mass terror law protest

Britain's legal elite rounded on the Government's anti-terror measures today - calling the new laws "the stuff of nightmares".

The country's top law firms signed a mass petition against plans to put terror suspects under house arrest.

In a full-page advertisement today, more than 150 barristers and solicitors, and 16 QCs, decry the Bill as a "visible injustice" and call on ministers to "think again". The signatories include representatives from leading international firms Clifford Chance; Linklaters; Fisher Meredith; Herbert Smith and Norton Rose; as well as two QCs from Cherie Blair's chambers Matrix.

The public petition is also signed by four bishops, and a string of actors, fashion designers, singers, and figures from the literary world. It was published as the Prevention of Terrorism Bill returns to the Lords today. Peers will consider government and opposition amendments to the plans for socalled control orders which would allow terror suspects to be put under house arrest if there is insufficient evidence for them to be charged.

The measures could mean curfews, tagging and bans on phone and internet use. They are likely to be based on intelligence gleaned from phone tapping.

Today's advert, in The Independent and Guardian, says: " Our highest court has described detention without trial as 'the stuff of nightmares'. We agree. We choose to live in a democracy that protects life, liberty and the rule of law."

The petition calls for an end to detention without trial; respect for British values of freedom, justice and the presumption of innocence; and stresses that human rights must not be sacrificed in the name of security.

The Bill scraped through the Commons after ministers agreed to switch control of house arrest orders from politiciansto judges. Today's petition-put together by Liberty, will intensify pressure on the Government to make more concessions. Signatories include actors Sir Ian McKellen and Vanessa Redgrave and author Monica Ali.