IT is encouraging that Tony Blair has indicated that he might be able to compromise on opposition demands for judges to be given a greater role in the Government's controversial detention plans.

The Prime Minister insists he is neither being arrogant nor trying to railroad the plans through Parliament, but simply striving to protect the country from a terrorist attack.

We fully accept that assurance and appreciate the fact that he has an enormously difficult task in dealing with the threat to Britain from terrorism.

Our plea is that we do not sacrifice a cornerstone of British justice without full and proper scrutiny of the proposals.

There have been hopeful signs of movement, first by Home Secretary Charles Clarke and now by the Prime Minister, on the greater involvement of judges in the imposition of control orders.

But it remains unclear what that involvement will be. And until we know that Britain is not putting its name to suspects being detained on the orders of a politician and not a member of the judiciary, we will not feel comforted by the route being taken.