Britain's Home Secretary revealed that only a small minority of organizations consulted about the government's proposal to allow police to detain terrorism suspects for up to 42 days without charge actually support the idea. Jacqui Smith defended the controversial plans to increase the detention period from 28 days, despite opposition from key figures such as the Director of Public Prosecutions and the former Attorney General. Smith did not disclose the names of the organizations or individuals who supported the proposal. Media reports over the weekend indicated that the head of MI5, Jonathan Evans, expressed to MPs privately that he did not support the new laws. Despite this, senior police officers, such as London Commissioner Ian Blair, have endorsed the extension. Smith contended that the proposed laws were crucial in allowing police more time to interrogate suspects in intricate terrorism cases. She emphasized that the laws would have "safeguards" in place, with any request to extend the time limit requiring approval from both parliament and a judge. When questioned by both opposition and government members, Smith refuted claims that the 42-day limit was influenced by political motives, asserting that it was implemented to ensure successful prosecutions. She stated that there may come a time in the future when only having 28 days could result in releasing someone before evidence is gathered against them. Although she had previously believed that the time limit did not need to be extended, she now feels differently due to ongoing terrorism threats. If she and other senior police officers are mistaken about the need for holding someone longer than 28 days, the pre-trial extension would never be utilized. Smith unexpectedly announced the plans last week, leading to criticism from opposition parties, human rights groups, and some Muslim organizations. The strong opposition, including from government MPs, suggests that Smith and Prime Minister Gordon Brown will face difficulty in passing the laws in parliament. This would replicate the challenges faced by former Prime Minister Tony Blair, who experienced his initial defeat in the Commons in 2005 when he attempted to extend the detention period to 90 days.