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Clarke pleased with control order progress
Charles Clarke has said his control orders for terrorist suspects have "worked well" so far.
The home secretary was speaking on Thursday at the end of their first week of operation.
The orders, which allow judges to restrict the movements and communication of suspects without trial on the recommendation of the government, came into force after a major parliamentary dispute last week between the House of Commons and Lords.
They replaced the previous prevention of terrorism legislation, which allowed the detention without trial of suspects in Belmarsh jail, which had been ruled unlawful as it breached human rights.
Clarke immediately imposed control orders on those let out of Belmarsh and said after early problems the process had gone well.
"The control orders we have approved are for those who were in Belmarsh Prison and they have worked well in that regard," he said.
"There were some teething problems on the first day which I think have been sorted out. They were minor issues but nevertheless they were issues.
"We will see how it evolves in the future as the police and security services come up with any suggestions in that area."
He refused to rule out issuing further orders if the security services felt they were necessary.
"Recommendations may be made and if they are made I will make a report to parliament in the way set out in the legislation," the minister said.
Community punishments
The home secretary was speaking on a visit to a community service workshop in Kent.
He was publicising the government's "national clean up week" which is designed to promote the use of non-custodial sentences and encourage the public to get involved in choosing where offenders are sent to work.
Clarke said community punishments should not be seen as a "soft option".
"I think it's a lot softer to hang around in a cell than to say, 'come out and do work painting and decorating' or whatever it may be," he said.
"I don't think it's a soft option at all. People here today weren't saying it was a soft option - they were saying it was tougher."
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