UK govt mulls police call for new powers-minister

LONDON, Sunday (Reuters) The British government is studying police calls for powers to detain terrorism suspects for up to three months without charge as officers hunt the bombers of London's transport system, a minister said on Sunday.

The powers would be in addition to new anti-terrorism laws the government plans to bring before parliament in October.

"We are looking at all of these issues and what matters is a proportional response to this terrifying terror," said Peter Hain, Britain's secretary of state for Northern Ireland, when asked about powers of detention.

The Association of Chief Police Officers has called for an extension of powers to hold terrorism suspects to 90 days from a current limit of 14 days.

The request came after a second wave of bombings struck London last Thursday, killing no one but causing panic, exactly two weeks after four suicide bombers killed 52 in the capital.

The government has said it will toughen anti-terrorism laws to include making it an offence to prepare acts of terrorism, incite criminal acts or provide training in the use of dangerous substances.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Ian Blair told Sky News television on Sunday the police were discussing the additional powers with the government.

He said the police were also seeking the right to criminalise withholding the ability to decipher digital data.

"I am also very interested in creating an offence of refusing to reveal an encryption key, because a lot of stuff that we have on computers is encrypted, and we must have a criminal offence with serious punishment for refusing," Blair said.