Yvette Cooper MP Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, responding to the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation’s annual report on TPIMs, said:

“It is clear from this report that Theresa May’s decision to weaken counter terror powers was a serious mistake.

“It has led to two terror suspects absconding, very substantial extra costs, and weakening of security powers to the point that the police and security service are now choosing not to use TPIMs at all.

“The report makes clear than tens of millions of pounds of extra surveillance have had to be funded - and yet still two terror suspects ran off. And it casts doubt on whether TPIMs are now useful to the security agencies at all saying the changes ‘cause any intelligence agency to hesitate before recommending a TPIM notice’.

"David Anderson has made some sensible suggestions about strengthening powers - particularly on moving suspects away from the networks that can help them abscond. Theresa May should look at these urgently, rather than leaving the police and security services without the powers they need to deal with dangerous suspects or protect national security.

“Theresa May has been warned repeatedly about this. It just isn’t good enough for the Home Secretary to ignore this - she is responsible for weakening the system, making it very expensive and letting two suspects run off. She should admit she took the wrong decision and take action to put it right.”