By Justin Parkinson Political reporter, BBC News, Lib Dem conference

Police calls for more powers should be treated sceptically, Lib Dems say

A civil liberties campaigner has accused the government's terror laws reviewer of being an "enthusiastic public champion for internment".

Shami Chakrabati, of the pressure group Liberty, received some applause when she criticised Lib Dem peer Lord Carlile at the party's conference.

Lord Carlile has backed the case for longer detention without trial for some terror suspects.

Ms Chakrabati said a "wake-up call" was needed on human rights.

Ms Chakrabati's comments come as the Liberal Democrats are attempting to promote "libertarian" policies, such as opposition to identity cards and longer detention without trial.

Leader Sir Menzies Campbell kicked off the conference by accusing the government of "trampling" over civil liberties.

'Complex cases'

Ms Chakrabati told delegates in Brighton: "You won't believe it but there's a Liberal Democrat peer running around calling himself the independent reviewer of terror laws who's become the most enthusiastic public champion of internment."

The current limit for detention without trial is 28 days.

Ministers say this is not long enough to deal with the most complex terror cases.

In July, Lord Carlile said he supported police calls for longer detention periods.

But he said it would be better if senior judges, "who have a great deal of experience in analysing evidence" - rather than politicians - should monitor individual detention periods, which should be subject to appeal.

"In that context, I think it would be extraordinary to suggest that anybody but a very, very small number of people would be detained for more than 28 days, but the judgment would be in the interests of justice," he said.

He said he believed that would be backed by civil liberties groups, adding: "My view is that people should never be detained for a day longer than is necessary in the interests of justice.

"Nor should people be detained for a day shorter than is necessary in the interests of justice."