Royal Navy will get tougher powers to take on pirates

Britain's anti-piracy laws are to be toughened, giving the Royal Navy more power to police international waters. Downing Street signalled the legislation – which could be announced as early as next month – was planned as it demanded the release of two British men on board the Saudi supertanker captured over the weekend.

The Prime Minister's spokesman said the aim would be to give Navy ships extra authority to tackle terrorists and pirates. David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, yesterday announced the Royal Navy would lead an EU defence group to "tackle the scourge of piracy in the Gulf of Aden". He said the problem was "a grave danger to the stability in the region".

It also emerged the Foreign Office negotiated a human rights memorandum of understanding with Kenya before agreeing to hand over eight pirates seized on 11 November by the Royal Navy Frigate HMS Cumberland, off Somalia. The memorandum contained guarantees the pirates would have a fair trial and would not be tortured or face the death penalty. The men were held for several days on an auxiliary support ship, Wave Knight, while the agreement was concluded.