SENIOR opposition MPs accused the Government yesterday of dragging the police into politics over the 90-day clause in the Terrorism Bill.

Chief constables across the country launched an unprecedented lobbying campaign for the clause last week after Ken Jones, the Chief Constable of Sussex and the chairman of a national committee, asked them to contact their MPs.

Sir Ian Blair, the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, and Andy Hayman, the head of Scotland Yard’s anti-terrorist operations, also argued in favour of the 90 days.

Stephen Dorrell and Peter Lilley, both former Conservative ministers, tabled a parliamentary motion yesterday condemning “the unprecedented campaign to mobilise chief constables to lobby MPs in favour of government policy”. They said that the campaign marked “a damaging step towards the politicisation of the police”.

Mr Dorrell said: “We need to ensure that the distinction is maintained between the process of policymaking, which is properly for the Government, and the enforcement of law, which is properly for police.”

Geoff Hoon, the Leader of the House, said it was absurd to expect MPs to make decisions without knowing the views of police. The Home Office and the Association of Chief Police Officers have denied that there was any Government-inspired lobby. The police say that they lobbied because they had proposed the 90-day plan and wanted to put their case.

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