Amnesty International UK Director Kate Allen said:

“Charles Clarke today proposed an extension of his powers that would frankly have been beyond belief had it not been for the draconian measures that preceded it.

“Today’s details cannot disguise the essence of the new Bill: the Home Secretary has reserved the power to place anyone in the UK under house arrest without charge or trial, based on secret evidence.

“This is nothing short of internment at home.

“If someone is suspected of doing something wrong, they should be charged and given a fair trial. Locking them in their homes is not the alternative.”

Amnesty International also called for all those currently being held under the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act to either be charged with a recognisably criminal offence and given a fair trial, or released.