HOME secretary Michael Howard is to modify the Government's plans on bugging.

He has agreed that intrusive surveillance operations must be approved in advance by independent commissioners.

Following talks with Jack Straw, Shadow Home Secretary and MP for Blackburn, Mr Howard is to table amendments to the Police Bill that would require chief constables, except in emergency cases, to seek authorisation before bugging homes and offices.

The Bill, in its original form, would have allowed bugging on the say-so of chief constables.

We have argued from the start that this part of the Bill was clumsy, ill-conceived and the sort of tactic we would expect to find operating in a police state.

Mr Howard had little choice following a heavy defeat in the Lords on the issue and the threat of a Tory rebellion in the Commons.

But he has given notice that he will attempt to overturn another expected defeat this week on the Crime (Sentences) Bill which introduces automatic minimum sentences for persistent burglars and drug dealers.

Labour has tabled an amendment which Mr Howard said "would drive a coach and horses " through the legislation.

The amendment would give judges wider discretion to set aside such sentences when they consider them to be unjust.

Such a safeguard makes sense.

A man who stole a piece of pizza in the USA recently received a draconian prison sentence because it was his third theft offence in a row.

The term was reduced on appeal after the system was made to look a medieval laughing stock.

We do not want to see such farcical sentences introduced over here, although it is right that persistent hard-case criminals should get long prison sentences.

The Home Secretary's U-turn on the bugging section of the Police Bill is to be welcomed.

But would he have been so willing to listen to criticisms if there was no general election on the horizon and the government enjoyed a majority of 30 or 40?

We think not. It would have been a case of: "We know best."

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