Home Secretary Charles Clarke has ruled it out, denying it would make it easier for terror suspects to be tried instead of being detained without charge.

But Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair told the Daily Telegraph it would make policing "much easier" and allow lawyers to test the evidence.

He also said an attempted al-Qaeda attack on London was "inevitable".

Sir Ian told the newspaper: "I have long been in favour of intercept evidence being used in court.

"In policing terms it would make my job much easier."

The commissioner, who took over from Sir John Stevens on Tuesday, said the move would help relations with the Muslim community.

And he said it would allow the courts to weigh up the evidence.

" It is inevitable that terrorists connected to al-Qaeda will attempt to carry out a terrorist atrocity in London "
Sir Ian Blair
Met Police Commissioner

"At the moment, nobody can test it," he said.

On the threat of terrorism, he said the world had "grown darker" in recent years.

"It is inevitable that terrorists connected to al-Qaeda will attempt to carry out a terrorist atrocity in London," he added.

"I know that because they have. It is difficult to calculate whether it is inevitable that they will get through."

Sir Ian intends to ask for a further 5,000 officers to patrol London's streets and has pledged to crack down on "middle-class" drug users who think it is "socially acceptable" to snort cocaine.

Control orders

Under the Anti-Terrorism Crime and Security Act 2001 terror suspects can be held indefinitely without facing trial.

But the home secretary has announced a change in the law after Law Lords ruled the detentions illegal.

Mr Clarke will replace indefinite detentions with "control orders" where suspects will be but put under house arrest and surveillance.

Sir Ian has said previously he is in favour of control orders because suspects can't be allowed to "wander the country".

(BBC)

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