Haven't we already aBorder Control Force in The Coastguard ?
Before we set up yet another well-paid bureaucracy (Chief Executives at £150k p.a. etc) shouldn't we consider beefing up the Coastguard ? Just how much of the coastline does it regulary survey at present ? What about all the small harbours and creeks where immigrants can surepticiously land ? We should also equip the CG with proper seagoing vessels (as the USA and Norway does to metion just two countries).

David Thomas, Burnham, UK

so what's next? 10-fingerprinting and iris-scanning like on the us airports? somebody having insight into my credit card history? why not also having my dna sample right at the airport and cottonswab my mouth? why not as a matter of fact arrest people right away first, and then check if they are terrorists?

this whole thing is ridiculous. it is harrassment of the passengers who travel for all the other reasons except the terrorism. those who want to blow something up, will find the way too, just like they did so far, security measures here or there.

i'm flying regularly to uk ; security checks and treatment at the airports (using luton and heathrow) are pure harrassment and waste of time.

queuing to check in and security check - shoes and jackets off, emptying pockets and alike, made 1.20hr on my last trip... it was never under less than one hour so far.

and now additional security measures? just how is checking my credit card history going to help security of uk?

cherry, vienna, austria

A positive step in the right direction even though its too late.
Obviously working too if there have been arrests as a result.
Could not understand P.Thornton's comment. Brits living in any European country have a right to draw their pension regardless. It also gets damn cold too even in Spain and its perfectly legal to claim the WFA. Most of these people have paid into the system all their lives and are paid up.
There are no cheap flights anymore as tax increases have put paid to that. In fact it is cheaper to pay medical insurance living abroad until you gain residence and are of pensionable age.
Why anyone would want to "pop back" to see their doctor is almost laughable as the medical system is far superior in western europe. No MRSA or super bugs in the hospitals either.
Many ex-pats are still paying UK tax on savings and private pension income and anyway cannot claim benefits in countries such as Spain. They put into the systems with their Spanish Taxes. Wise Up.

D C, Birmingham, UK

What paranoia. The situation is no different from when we had the IRA. There's no need for all this, just common sense.

And if we left Iraq and Afganistan immediately and we'd have none of these problems.

Michael Debham, Bedford,

Of course, this is a farse. Unless, we also protect ourselves from "legitimate" foreign workers coming to this country to work in key positions like health, government, security, utilities and sceientific exploration, the threat of terrorism will only increase. We must asa a priority increase the criteria for entry into the UK from would be immigrants and asylum seekers. In the first case, everyone must speak english to a competent level; no-one gets in unless veils are removed; brides and grooms of settled immigrant families doe not have any privileged access; and anyone preaching intolerance against any religion or ethnic group is deported or imprisoned as appropriate to their legal status to be in the UK. The solution requires far reaching measures than just putting additional burdens on the indigenous population as they try to get a least one decent annual holiday abroad in this ever increasing authoritarian state.

Karen Miles, Macclesfield, UK

No law abiding citizen would begrudge necessary measures to safeguard the population. The test is: are the measures appropriate?

In the last 24 months:
How many 'terrorist' suspect were held?
How many were formally arrested?
How many were released with no charge brought?
How many were sent for trial?
How many were found guilty as charged?
How many were imprisoned?
What was the TOTAL cost to the taxpayer?

Red, Cape Town, South Africa

Finally!
I was travelling to UK via the Chunnel a week ago - the border check was a joke! After being boredly waved across the "border line" (without ID check), I drove my car up the train in Calais, drove off it again in Folkestone, travelled in my car to my destination and back - and then the whole ludicrous procedures again... I could have stuck the booth full with weapons, explosives, whatever without being searched.
I don't mind, because it all went really smoothly! But, let's be realistic, this is outrageous!
No wonder Europe (yes, my Friends, you too are part of it) is as leaky as bucket with 50Mio holes...

Capricorn, Brussels, Belgium

Our open-door immigration policies, out-of-control political "correct"ness, and the kid-glove, ultra-liberal, "thou shalt not punish criminals" attitude of groups such as Liberty and Amnesty International, have together combined to make Britain a criminal's paradise.
As for the Government waiting until now to start bringing in tough measurements- talk about locking the stable door after the horse has bolted.
And before anyone asks, I'm not a BNP member.

Robert Crosbie, Galashiels, Scotland

Good! I wish we in the U.S. would do the same, but we are afraid to offend anyone.

Teri Reid, Oriental, USA/ North Carolina

I live in Paris and am a British citizen with french nationality also, from my late husband. About a week ago coming to London on Eurostar and imagining strict controls after the latest tragic attacks in uk, I walked right through, no one asking for any identity paper whatsoever. True I am old and looked tired but that's not a reason!
The return journey was more organised - they even looked at my British passport.
This is nothing to do with politics - it's just common sense.

Coke, paris, france

I think it's good that terrorists can come through the borders without hassle.. We need more of that so that the goverment will understand what consequenses their greed of influence of political power etc will have on our sociaty as whole.

LOL

erkan, london, england

Oh boy,
The Government takes away your freedom, and you support them.
Truly is it said "Those who are not willing to die for freedom will live as Slaves".
To truly live as free men we need to enforce our borders, take away the rights of terrorists and people who would harm our country while protecting the majority of law abiding citizens.
Above all we need a government that will protect the peoples right to live in peace, not a government that blindly follows others into war.
We would not be in this position except for for our politicians slavish devotion to the American Dollar
Howard UK

howard, Essex,

Let's face it - if you were a terrorist - you wouldn't have legit passports, employment records, credit cards, etc, etc - you'd use somebody else's!

Also, terrorists don't alert themselves that they're terrorists - they're cleverer than us - that's how they manage to get away with everything!

If they're going to blow us up, no amount of data that we provide is going to help the situation - let's face it - whilst the security guards are going to check the person out at the airport or wherever else, by that time the terrorist has pulled the cord, or dialled via mobile fone - and we're all dead! So, no amount of us providing all our data is going to help! Are the terrorists going to give legit information - I doubt it! Think about it! It is a total infringement on our human rights! And no doubt the British will be the ones providing all the info, whereas those from foreign shores will not be - how exactly are the Govt going to check the employment histories of those abroad???

sara, London,

They will still get through ,alot of them are already in the UK.

Terri , London, England

I think lots of people already understand that the only institution who stands to benefit from the anti-terror hysteria and the war itself is the mighty US government! Killing hostages, making the rest of the world disturbed, destibilizing the situation in the Persian Gulf justificates US troop presence in this region, keeps the money and the war going, soldiers dying for nothing. Did you notice how well Mr Bin Laden pops up just when it is necessary to keep the nation's spirit about the war? Did you notice how many terrorist attacks suddenly become prevented at the right time? Who needs this all? As old latin saying goes: "Cui bono?" - "Who benefits"

Jury Glad, London, London

Action at last! But is it the right way? Millions have entered this country without justification. First, there is the enemy within already; most second generation non-brits with no British values; these need to be expelled. The few terrorists who come from abroad should be really proper screened. But above all the flood of immigrants need to be stopped before we have these "rivers of blood". But don't bring a 1984 situation to proper loyal and loyal Brits as this would be a bad and wrong way. Get (only) the baddies Brown.

Eric Price, Lichfied, Staffs.,

Is Labour about to wake up from its anaestetic dreams???
And for "breakfast" they are now digesting the Torries plan against terror in UK - very good.
Very good!!!

eddy jacobsen, L´don, UK

Not one moment too soon! Why has it taken so long for the government to wake up, face the danger and discharge its responsibilities?

George Ross, London, UK

How will electronic screening enable the identification of terrorists? Do terrorists automatically have an electronic chip implanted at birth, to enable them to be recognised later in life? Is it not possible that they might try to conceal their identities by using false, stolen or altered passports, just as they do now?

Dave, Beverley, East Yorks,

Make UK a safer place to live Brown, go for all the right moves to prevent terrorism and illegal immigrants into UK with tougher checks, controls and monitoring For once, the government is doing something right. Surely, precious lives and peace should take priority over invasion of a little privacy and civil rights.

Jenny Koh, London, UK

I believe that each individual should have just one passport and one nationality. Confiscation of the suspect's passport serves no purpose if the person has a dual nationality and a second legal passport from another country of which our security services could have no knowledge.

Gulab, Kingston upon Thames,

D Case, what an intelligent contribution... you seem to be suggesting that the muslim people have no right to be in "our country." Maybe you should be locked up. As the learned Amnesty spokesperson has noted, we should learn lessons from the past in Northern Ireland. By keeping one eye on the past, we should prevent any previous mistakes from being repeated... To walked blindly into the future would be non-sensical. Internship is not the answer...28 days is more than adequate.

M Thompson, Belfast/ New York City, Northern Ireland/ USA

About time too! I was against such "draconian"measures initially(heard tales of a local group of retirees being roughly dealt with when they arrived in Miami enroute to a cruise and thought it all rather "over the top".)Now I don't and own to feeling "anxious" on the tube,etc.Anything to keep us all safe.H.D.

H.Ducker, W.s.Mare, N.Somerset

Dear King Canute - or is it Mr Brown
Schengen is dead - major disruption and expense is the terrorists achievement. A false fealing of security merely - did all the border controls between UK, IOM Channel Isles stop the IRA - of course not. If someone wants to breakl into your home, they will do so - equally attempting to secure the borders is doomed to failure.

Tony, Windsor, UK

the weather's great in Australia, see ya later alligator

Tom R., Sydney,

As a British passport holder who travels extensively on business into and out of the UK, this is just another 'hoop' that I am going to have to jump through. It will no doubt take more time and this has to be paid for by the customer through increased prices and fees.

I hope that all people understand that this will only lead to increased prices, or businesses will stop visiting the UK and some may even go out of business.

Well done Brown & Co - another 'knee-jerk' reaction, not thought out but destined to interfere with my right to free passage into and out of the country as a British citizen

Adrian Wilkinson, Competa, Spain

Oh well. Now we are officially a Police State. Trouble is they still won't monitor illegal immigrants, who will just wander in, be given instructions on how to get to Croydon, and their train fare. Then they can disappear into the woodwork. The Government don't know how many illegal immigrants are here. Even their "official figures" for legal Polish economic immigrants are way out of line. The figure they quote just about covers those already settled in Slough, Windsor, and Ashford, let alone the rest of the country.
There is of course the problem of the disatisfied youth, born and bred here, that bite the hand that feeds them. Perhaps the money would be better spent checking on British born youth "visiting" Pakistan etc. for long "holidays". My friends used to send their children on a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once. Now they don't as they fear their children will be targetted and indoctrinated by extremists.

Beryl, WINDSOR, England

Let's hope they check the checkers and don't employ undesirables who will wave through their fellow travellers and i use that word loosely. We know for sure that certain factions have infiltrated every other security body in this country, Passport office, DWP, NI office, DVLA...so we have to make sure that these people are vetted to the highest order, i have been twice so i expect it of them.

Britain deserves nothing less. Let's hope this is not another Labour shambes.

Samantha Jones, Bucks, England

This is excellent news, I have every confidence that the new PM will start turning the tables and make the UK a strong country that it used to be. I'm proud to be a Briton and want to protect or county, our children and our heritage. To all those people who don't, I ask why? Maybe it's time they faced reality and moved on to an other country!

Jason, Peterborough,

Although this new border police force is presently a security measure aimed at catching terrorists, if properly co-ordinated, the information collected could have unexpected advantages for the tax payers of Britain. I know many people who have lived abroad for years but use a family accommodation address in the UK as a way to cheat the pension and benefits systems.

Cheap flights have enable some of my acquaintance to 'pop' back to see their doctor, keep hospital appointments and even apply for the Winter Fuel Allowance when retirement approached. Until now there are few checks but perhaps people will think twice when they realise their movements can easily be scrutinised.

Pat Thornton, Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria

A waste of time and resources, are we getting too paranoic? beyond American limits?

Alex, Reading, Berks

I fully agree with the plan. Yes it's bit too late in the day, but in today's world we ought to make a start to make not only the country but the world a safer place sans populism and improper political correctness.

K Prasad, Ayr, UK

I think is a bit too late now and this should have done longtime ago.

Linda, Nakornpathom, Thailand

Finally then Brits have decided to watch their borders. Mr. Brown seems to be taking charge of the place in a way that should have been 20 years ago. Hopefully, the same intentions may now be applied to the Home Office and the Immigration authority to stop, once and for all, the free-for-all and the pandering to minority groups at the expense of everyone else.

John, Melbourne, Australia

One wonders how many undesirables have infiltrated the UK whilst the Government resisted this option because it was Tory policy.

Playing politics with lives.

Ubi, Edinburgh, UK

it seems that the above are divided into two camps ..
those who blame everyone apart from those responsible
i.e. they claim the terroists are innocent and the polititions et al are guilty - when in efffect our politicians are just incompetant.....
and everyone else are simply victims-
The other camp tends to blame everyone who cannot trace their family roots back to maga carta-
As regards the border police idea ...well it will cost millions-won't be effective and yes a classic 'stable door' jobbie-
Our 'threat' comes now from within-born and bred in the last 40/50 years and those of course who- were welcomed - fed and watered and will repay us with carnage..

mike, oxford, england

Reading what the Government announces is always more salutary than reading later on what they have implemented. Usually nothing at all.....whether radios onm the Tube, flood defences, border controls, or work permit and student visa controls - in the cold light of day nothing changes as slothful government sinks into inertia

TomTom, Leeds, England

Not going to "Britain", or the U.S. for that matter. Besides, I hear that it is "humid" there.

Peter, Mexico City, Mexico

Too little too late, we have too many illegals here already, closing the barn door after the horse has bolted springs to mind.

clive lowe, stockport, cheshire

Border Police eh?......I'd advise Cameron to remain quiet for a while so that his good ideas aren't at risk of being stolen by Mr Brown......sneakthief.

Judy , Liverpool, england

This government is clearly using the whole war on terror as an excuse for totalitarian controls. I worry for our future since no one, including opposition parties, seem to be trying to stop them. Are there any politicians feeling the outrage that I feel? Apparently not.

Pete, Bristol, Security State

Measures to fight terrorism without action to address underlying causes will only have limited success. Why, after all, have the USA and UK become a focus of such hatred? The main grievance is Palestine. Jewish population of Palestine was less than 10% in 1917. Since then we have helped "Zionism" (the movement to create a national home for Jewish people) to take away over 80% of Palestine from its indigenous population and are allowing Israel to continue to annexe more and more of it. Included in Israel's wished-for annexations is East Jerusalem, containing a site holy for moslems all over the world. It was Britain that encouraged Zionist settlements through the Balfour Declaration of 1917 and the subsequent British Mandate, and it is the Americans who have in recent decades given Israel every financial, military and diplomatic support. More recent grievances, of course, are our bloodily counterproductive invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan, both USA / UK led.

Rod Walters, Abergavenny, Wales

National Border Police Force? Stop imposing cuts on the Nations only fully armed Police Force, The Ministry Of Defence Police (MoD Police) and increase it substantially, to cover all official ports and points of entry. They are the only nationally, firearms, anti-terrorists experienced Police Force in the United Kingdom. They are the best in their field, why does this Government continue to allow the Ministry of Defence to slash their numbers? Indeed at times of hightened alerts, it they (MoD Police) whom the BTP and Metropolitan Police call upon for the armed backup and speciallised search and other anti-terrorist experience.

JJ05E3, Cheshire, Great Britain

Preventive detention is a must, and is one of the secret weapons against these invisible army of bent Islam.

When will people wake up to the reality that these zealots are exploiting the conscience of we reasonable people?

Here´s to all those Brits who thought that once Blair is gone, all their perceived problems would be gone.

Kong Kek Kuat, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Surely if you have sufficient evidence to detain a suspect for 28 days you have sufficient to charge them.
With the recent attack in Glasgow, was there anyone involved who had been held for 28 days and then had to be released?
Would the availability of longer detention have had any impact?
Has there yet been an occassion where someone has been released after 28 days without charge who has then gone on to commit a terrorist act?
If a member of a terrorist cell was held in this way would they be likely to remain active?
Is there any real evidence that longer detention without charge has any benefit?
Ok, how about re-examining what is currently non-admissible as evidence and why; look at whether such evidence should be valid.
What's better: infringement of civil liberties or changing the methods of intelligence gatherers?

Jon Dawkins, Bristol, UK

Internment is the only answer, if we suspect someone of being a terrorist they should be locked up until the case is proven either way. If the muslem comunity oject then it is up to them to rid themselves of this menus. We pander too much to these people and it is high time they took on board that this is our country and if they don,t like that then they should go live some place elese.
Go for it Mr. Brown, lets have our country back and rid our self of those who wish to change it.

D Case, Newquay,

""How much more of the Conservative manifesto is Gordon Brown going to use as his own.""

I neither know nor care.

This ridiculous us-and-them ideological polarisation has got to stop. What matter is good ideas, regarldess of where they come from.

Joe, Manchester,

Call me naive, but surely after 4 weeks of questioning, if there is not sufficient evidence to prosecute, will there ever be?

Andrew Torode, Nottingham, England

Who are these "community groups", and what are they supposed to do with £70m to "resist violent extremism"?

Nick, London,

the PM is bowing to the lowest common denominator, the extension of detention without trial is unjustified and will not make this country any more secure, on the contrary it will damage it.

As a british muslim I got into a taxi a couple of weeks ago, and when asked for destination I mentioned my work address. as the driver didn't know it, so I pointed out the nearest landmark "its near scotland yard", the look on his face changed as he eyed the heavy rucksack I was carrying. He was ok when I explained my journey but there was an uncertain moment. The politcians are to blame for over hyping the threat, this extension to detain people, flies in the face of justice and will be dark period of our history.

Akram, London,

this border force could also be used (like east german border guards) to halt the flow of thousands of british families desperate to abondon this island because they know this country is no place for their offfspring.

a wee bit too late for border controls eh what?

alan, glasgow, uk

This seems like a promising idea.

Comments to the effect that foreigners should be prohibited from entering the UK in the first place is counterproductive to effective globalization. And those with few skills on arrival can probably gain some.

Charles Smyth, Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Gordon Brown is quite extraordinary. Has he just arrived from another planet or was he the number 2 in the government for the last 10 years. Did ever express these opinions at cabinet meetings or in his one to one with Tony Blair. He must think we are completely naive.

Gwyn Davies, Cardiff, Wales

Internment, which is what extending the 28 day limit on detention amounts to, added at least a decade to the Irish problem and was one of the best recruiting tools the IRA had at the time. Clearly Brown is doing what Blair spent his entire premiership doing, pandering to the Daily Mail and trying to make headlines rather than have an intelligent deabte on the issue. The king of spin is dead, long live the king of spin!

Bobby Smith, Surrey, UK,

How much more of the Conservative manifesto is Gordon Brown going to use as his own.

Nite Owl, Ferndown, Dorset

Perhaps Mr Brown can also look harder at the people we let into the UK at the border, before they commit crimes? Do we really want a never-ending stream of young men with few skills and no funds flooding our cities?

RN, plymouth, UK

More BS from Labour and how come only now????

Peter andrew, Montreal, Canada