„It is time to accept that the capacity to secretly and immediately detain persons whether or not they are implicated in terrorism is a step too far,“ former judge Roger Gyles QC said in the latest Independent National Security Legislation Monitor report, tabled in parliament on Wednesday.

The measure was proposed in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks and introduced in 2003 amid much controversy.

It had an initial 2006 sunset date but has been successively extended.