Britain:British prime minister Gordon Brown has signalled more security checks and barriers, blast-resistant buildings and vehicle exclusion zones as part of a widening effort to protect airports, railway stations, shopping centres and sporting and entertainment venues from terrorist attack.
In a major statement launching a report by security minister Lord West, Mr Brown also announced new moves to prevent the exploitation of charities by extremists, as well as "hearts and minds" measures to counter the influence of radical Islamic fundamentalists in Britain's schools and universities, youth clubs and prisons and on the internet.
However, Mr Brown's statement to MPs was overshadowed by a row over Lord West's apparent confusion and alleged U-turn over government plans to extend the present 28-day limit on holding terror suspects without charge.
The home secretary, Jacqui Smith, meanwhile, remained in the eye of a storm over the revelation that thousands of illegal immigrants had been cleared to work in the security industry - with reports yesterday suggesting the actual number could be double the 5,000 suggested by officials on Monday.
In a tough interview on BBC Radio 4's PMprogramme, Ms Smith was asked if she would "have kept quiet" about the issue had there been a November election. Leaked government e-mails appeared to show Ms Smith accepting official advice favouring a news blackout to prevent damaging headlines. However, she insisted she had written to more than 2,000 employers in the private security industry alerting them to their duty to establish that employees were legally in the UK, adding her actions were "hardly things I would have done had I wanted to keep it a secret".
Lord West, meanwhile, was forced to deny Conservative suggestions that he had been "leant on" by Mr Brown to fall in line over the extension of the pre-charge detention period for terror suspects, having earlier told the BBC he was not "fully convinced" the change was justified. Within an hour of his early-morning broadcast, following a meeting with Mr Brown and Ms Smith, Lord West, a former admiral, declared himself convinced of the case, suggesting that, as "a simple sailor", he had not chosen his words carefully.
Downing Street's clarification following Mr Brown's statement also corrected the impression that passengers at Britain's main railway stations might routinely face airport-type security.
The implications of electronic borders for British and Irish citizens also moved up the political agenda yesterday. SDLP leader Mark Durkan pressed Mr Brown for an assurance there would be "best engagement" by the British with the Irish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive.
DUP MP Gregory Campbell pressed Mr Brown on measures "to prevent access to the Republic by international terrorists" who might seek to use it as a base to launch attacks on Britain. Mr Campbell also sought assurance "that the travelling public in Northern Ireland will be able to continue to go about their business in a normal way".
Mr Brown appeared to agree with Mr Campbell, saying he was "absolutely right - we want the maximum freedom of movement". He added that he would continue his "friendly" discussions with the First Minister, Dr Paisley, and had already discussed these issues with the Taoiseach.