David Miranda detention: Government used 'wrong powers' - Lord Falconer

Former Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer, who aided in the introduction of the terrorism act of 2000, has said that the government used "the wrong powers" when detaining Brazilian David Miranda at Heathrow airport under anti-terror laws.

Mr Miranda is the partner of Guardian journalist Glenn Greenwald, who has covered stories based on leaks by US whistle-blower Edward Snowden.

Mr Miranda is challenging the legality of his detention.

Scotland Yard has maintained the detention was "legally and procedurally sound".

Home Secretary Theresa May has said the police had to act if someone had "highly sensitive, stolen information".

But speaking to the BBC, Lord Falconer said: "It does look like the wrong powers were used. Schedule 7 of the terrorism act is to be used... to discover whether somebody is a terrorist. If you know the person is not a terrorist, that power is not open to you."