London, 2008 Feb 6, IRNA

Prime Minister Gordon Brown Wednesday gave a tentative go ahead for the limited use in court of evidence gained from bugging suspects, provided that nine conditions were met.

The approval comes as the result of a review that said intercept evidence was needed in some cases in England and Wales for security reasons.

But it added that the material gained should not be used against the wishes of the intelligence agencies collecting it, or if it could have been gained in another way among other conditions.

In response, Brown announced another review to establish how such evidence could be used in practice and ensure safeguards are put in place.

Intercept evidence is already used in most countries and civil rights groups arguing that it offers an alternative to lengthy pre- charge detention.

But Britain's intelligence services, including MI5, MI6 and GCHH are said to be among the main opponents, claiming it would reveal sophisticated intercept techniques and could expose details of operations.

Opposition Conservative leader David Cameron welcomed the review but warned that a fresh review 'will lead to delay' and called on the prime minister that Britain 'must not put off endlessly what needs to be done'.

Last week, the intelligence and security committee, which reports direct to Brown, said it was a question whether using intercept material in court would result in more terrorist convictions than are already achieved through its use to generate leads.

"Whether these would be sufficient to outweigh the possible reduction in the capability of the agencies to identify the terrorists and disrupt the attacks in the first place, it said was the other question.

Despite the possible go ahead, the government has already announced plans to extend the pre-charge detention of terrorist suspects from 28 to 42 days, but far the longest in the western world.

Currently some 800 public bodies can request personal
communications data. These include every police force, prison and 474 local authorities, as well as the security and intelligence agencies.