Senior judges back the "sunset clause" supported by the Tories and Liberal Democrats under which the Prevention of Terrorism Act would expire automatically by next November, according to Lord Ackner, a retired law lord.

Even if amendments requiring the home secretary to apply to a judge before making any control order are accepted by parliament, the judges would still be unhappy with the provisions because the suspect would not be able to mount a real defence, he said.
Judges are concerned that they could be used by the government to add legitimacy to a discredited procedure.