Watch on hundreds of terror suspects

HUNDREDS of terror suspects are under surveillance in Britain, but only one new ‘‘control order’’ has been handed down and no one has yet been deported, the Home Secretary said yesterday.

Charles Clarke told a special meeting of the Commons home affairs select committee at Westminster that proposals for new anti-terror measures, promised shortly after the July 7 bombings in London, would be brought forward later this week.

Mr Clarke has already outlined a new benchmark of ‘‘ unacceptable behaviour’’ that would trigger deportations or the exclusion of people who fomented hatred of western values.

However, although he promised action ‘‘ within days’’ several weeks ago, nothing has yet happened.

Tony Blair, who is attending a United Nations meeting in New York this week, has tabled a resolution calling for the international community to tackle terrorist incitement.

But Tories last night said Britain was the one country that had done little or nothing against the so- called ‘‘preachers of hate’’.

James Clappison, Conservative MP for Hertsmere and a member of the cross-party select committee, said: ‘‘ We are hearing an awful lot of talk but where is the action?

“ We want to see something actually happen and the words from Mr Blair and Mr Clarke bear fruit. What has the Government actually been doing?’’

Mr Clarke disclosed that he had issued one control order against an unnamed British national restricting his movements on the grounds that he was considered a possible threat to national security.

It is the fi rst time that such an order, which caused a huge parliamentary battle before the election, has been used against a British citizen. Ten foreign terrorist suspects who were subject to control orders, the same people who were detained without trial for three years before being released after a ruling by the law lords, have recently been re-arrested pending their deportation.

The Government is concerned that the moment it moves against any individual the courts will intervene to prevent deportation under Article 3 of the convention.

Mr Blair has signalled that the Human Rights Act may be amended to stop this happening.