MPs back new terror laws as government warned it can't 'lock terrorists away for longer and hope for the best'

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The government must not jail terrorists for longer and “hope for the best”, it has been warned as MPs passed a controversial suite of terror laws. The law would increase the maximum penalty from 10 to 14 years’ imprisonment for several terror offences and judges would also be able to increase the sentence for any crime punishable by more than two years in prison by finding a “terrorist connection”. Legal changes would see those found guilty of selected offences, such as planning attacks, handed a minimum 14-year prison term and monitored for up to 25 years after their release under new “serious terrorism sentence”. In a report published last month, he wrote: “Terrorism laws are not in general best served by unnecessary expansions.” Mr Buckland said that authorities would seek to prosecute or deport suspected terrorists over using a TPIM, but that they remained a “vital risk management tool”.