Most people believe terrorist suspects should be held without trial for no more than four weeks, in opposition to the Government's planned 42 days, according to a new survey.
A poll of over 1,000 adults for the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust showed that only a third supported the Prime Minister's call for an extension to the time terror suspects can be held.
The findings were published on the eve of tomorrow's Haltemprice and Howden by-election, sparked by the resignation of Tory MP David Davis so he could stand for re-election on a civil liberties platform in the wake of the 42-day controversy.
One in 10 of those questioned said they believed terrorist suspects should only be held for a week, while 6% said it should be restricted to four days.
Three out of four people polled by ICM last week said DNA records should not be kept, or only for a limited time, for people who were innocent.
Professor Stuart Weir, director of Democratic Audit at Essex University, said: "These findings show little public appetite for the prolonged detention of terrorist suspects without charge.
"As debate on the Government's 42-day proposals continues, they show that Gordon Brown's assertion that a majority of people back them is ill-founded."
