3nd December 2011
Water Cannon and Baton Rounds – A Stark Militarisation of British Policing
News has come out this week that the Metropolitan Police, often regarded as the forefront of the British police forces despite each police force being independently run, is seriously considering purchasing three water cannons for use against any unrest in future.
10th November 2011
The Protection of Freedoms Bill – Good and Bad Latest
The Government’s flagship civil liberties and human rights Bill, named the Protection of Freedoms Bill by the Coalition, made successful passage through the House of Commons, having its third and final Commons reading on the 11th October 2011. There were, however, some grave concerns at the methods the government used to thwart some important amendments.
6th October 2011
The Government is Deciding on Human Rights Issues by Misrepresenting Them
There have been some serious developments regarding civil liberties as the conference season took place. Firstly the students arrested for unfurling a banner, then the Mayor of London's draconian speech, and then catgate, the Home Secretary's assault on human rights law.
1st October 2011
Travellers Called “Parasites” Because They Won’t Leave Their Own Land
The Daily Telegraph prides itself in upholding Christian values, the right to property and the maintenance of British civil liberties, yet when it comes to ethnic minorities, commenters on the Telegraph seem to differentiate between those who have much wealth and those who are “parasites”.
5th July 2011
Could Kettling Be Going?
There have been some very encouraging developments recently regarding the police practice of “kettling”, the method by which demonstrators are contained in impromptu imprisonment due to their presence at a protest and the concurrent presence of a minority of suspected trouble-makers.
27th June 2011
Labour Still Doesn’t Get “Innocent Until Proven Guilty”
Innocent. It is, in English law, the default status of any and every person in the nation. The term “innocent until proven guilty” is known the country over. Except in the Labour Party. At Prime Minister’s Questions on the 22nd June, Ed Miliband, the Labour leader, rounded on David Cameron, accusing him of effectively allowing women to be raped.
8th June 2011
The Freedom Bill – Truncated
In 2009 the Liberal Democrats published what they trumpeted as the milestone in the civil liberty movement: the Freedom Bill. The resulting Protection of Freedoms Bill 2011 falls far short of what was hoped for.
15th May 2011
Watching...Police Buy Sophisticated Surveillance Software
Reports came out last week that the Metropolitan Police have purchased software that is able to build up a record of your movements and enable profiling and tracking of almost anyone without their knowledge.
26th February 2011
NHS Reforms Could Allow Data-Sharing on Patients
In a disturbing piece of news, the British Medical Association has warned that the NHS reforms could leave room for extensive and dangerous data-sharing concerning patients’ health.
31st January 2011
Police Use “More Extreme” Tactics
In the first taste of what the police have said shall be “more extreme tactics” against protesters, CS spray has been used against apparently peaceful demonstrators.
