Prisons to introduce tests for legal highs in bid to reduce violence – The Guardian

‘Ministers claim the introduction of new drug tests able to detect legal highs such as spice and black mamba will prove a “gamechanger” in curbing the rising tide of violence in jails across England and Wales.’

Full story

The Guardian, 1st December 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Theresa May accused of rushing surveillance bill through back door – The Guardian

Posted November 27th, 2015 in bills, intelligence services, internet, investigatory powers, news, parliament by sally

‘The home secretary, Theresa May, has been accused of fast-tracking her “snooper’s charter” legislation by the back door after giving a scrutiny committee of MPs and peers only three weeks to consider the 299-page bill.’

Full story

The Guardian, 26th November 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Transcript of the Lord Chief Justice’s Annual Press Conference 2015 – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

‘The Lord Chief Justice, Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, held his annual press conference on Tuesday, 17 November, 2015, at the Royal Courts of Justice.’

Full transcript

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 17th November 2015

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Don’t Fast-Track the Investigatory Powers Bill: A reply to Lord Carlile – Natasha Simonsen and Cian Murphy – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted November 17th, 2015 in bills, investigatory powers, legislation, news, terrorism by sally

‘Lord Carlile QC, former Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation, has said that in the aftermath of the Paris attacks last weekend, Parliament should fast-track the Investigatory Powers Bill into law. Given his extensive experience in the field, Lord Carlile’s views should not be taken lightly. But Lord Carlile is wrong. To fast-track the Investigatory Powers Bill is undesirable and unnecessary. It would also end a crucial public conversation in a wrong-headed paroxysm of governmental action.’

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 16th November 2015

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

MPs to assess technological feasibility of requirements under proposed new surveillance laws – OUT-LAW.com

‘MPs at the UK parliament will assess whether it is technologically feasible for companies to comply with new communication surveillance laws that have been proposed.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 13th November 2015

Source: www.out-law.com

UK surveillance bill could bring ‘very dire consequences’, warns Apple chief – The Guardian

‘Apple’s chief executive has sharply criticised surveillance powers proposed by the British government, warning that allowing spies a backdoor route into citizens’ communications could have “very dire consequences”.’

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The Guardian, 10th November 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Bar Council comments on Draft Investigatory Powers Bill – The Bar Council

‘Responding to the publication of the Draft Investigatory Powers Bill, Alistair MacDonald QC, Chairman of the Bar, said: “The ‘double lock’ requirement of needing both judicial and senior ministerial authorisation for the most intrusive investigatory powers is not as secure as it is made out to be.” ‘

Full press release

The Bar Council, 5th November 2015

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Interception, Authorisation and Redress in the Draft Investigatory Powers Bill – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted November 5th, 2015 in bills, interception, investigatory powers, news, tribunals, warrants by sally

‘The Government has published a draft Bill on Investigatory Powers that it hopes to see through Parliament within a year. If it becomes law, the Investigatory Powers Bill will replace much, but not all, of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000, as well as the Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Act 2014.’

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 5th November 2015

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

UK government to reform communication surveillance laws – OUT-LAW.com

‘Data recording what websites internet users have visited will need to be retained for up to 12 months by telecommunication service providers under proposed new surveillance laws that have been outlined by the UK government.’

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 4th October 2015

Source: www.out-law.com

UK surveillance powers explained – BBC News

‘A new law setting out what powers the UK state will have to monitor communications between citizens is set to be unveiled. How will it work?’

Full story

BBC News, 4th November 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Investigatory powers bill: snooper’s charter to remain firmly in place – The Guardian

Posted November 3rd, 2015 in bills, intelligence services, internet, investigatory powers, news, privacy by sally

‘The key elements of the snooper’s charter, including the bulk collection and storage for 12 months of everyone’s personal data, tracking their use of the web, phones and social media, will remain firmly in place when the government publishes its new investigatory powers bill on Wednesday.’

Full story

The Guardian, 2nd November 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Theresa May faces fight over web browsing access – The Guardian

Posted November 3rd, 2015 in bills, intelligence services, internet, investigatory powers, news, privacy, reports by sally

‘The home secretary, Theresa May, should not seek to give the intelligence agencies full access to an individual’s web browsing history, Labour and the former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg are both likely to say when the government publishes its draft investigatory powers bill on Wednesday.’

Full story

The Guardian, 2nd November 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Respect the client’s right to legal privilege – MPs warned – The Bar Council

Posted November 2nd, 2015 in bills, investigatory powers, legal profession, press releases, privilege by sally

‘The statutory protection of legally privileged communications between lawyers and their clients should be high on the agenda when Parliament debates major new surveillance legislation next month. The Bar Council and The Law Society have called for legal professional privilege to receive statutory protection in the forthcoming Investigatory Powers Bill.’

Full press release

The Bar Council, 22nd October 2015

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Theresa May says ‘contentious’ parts of web surveillance plan dropped – BBC News

Posted November 2nd, 2015 in bills, internet, investigatory powers, news, police by sally

‘Police will be able to see websites people have visited but not the specific pages they have viewed without a warrant, under new government plans. Theresa May said the Investigatory Powers Bill will not have some “contentious” parts of the 2012 plan, dubbed a snooper’s charter by critics.’

Full story

BBC News, 1st November 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Police seek powers to access browsing history of UK computer users – The Guardian

Posted October 30th, 2015 in bills, internet, investigatory powers, news, police by sally

‘Police have lobbied the government for the power to view the internet browsing history of every computer user in Britain ahead of the publication of legislation on regulating surveillance powers.’

Full story

The Guardian, 30th October 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Reforming intellectual property law – Government consultation – Law Commission

Posted October 29th, 2015 in bills, consultations, intellectual property, Law Commission, news by sally

‘The Intellectual Property Office has opened a consultation to assess whether there would be sufficient stakeholder support to introduce our Intellectual Property (Unjustified Threats) Bill into Parliament using the special procedure reserved for uncontroversial Law Commission Bills.’

Full story

Law Commission, 23rd October 2015

Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk

Proposed blanket ban on legal highs criticised by MPs – The Guardian

Posted October 26th, 2015 in bills, drug offences, health & safety, inquiries, news, select committees by sally

‘A proposed blanket ban on legal highs is too broad and fails to adequately define what a psychoactive substance actually is, an influential committee of MPs has said.’

Full story

The Guardian, 24th October 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

This way, that way, the other way? Latest debate on Human Rights Act – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted October 23rd, 2015 in bills, human rights, news, rule of law by sally

‘Those who want change should have to make the case for it, Baroness Helena Kennedy QC challenged her fellow panellists, at a recent event jointly organised by the Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law and British Institute of International and Comparative Law, and hosted by Bindmans. The panel was one of the most stimulating contributions of the year to the debate over the proposed repeal of the Human Rights Act and its replacement with a British Bill of Rights, featuring contributions from three members of the 2012 Commission on a Bill of Rights, a number of comparative perspectives including one from Australia, and even a call for what appears to be a written constitution.’

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 23rd October 2015

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Government accused of risking ‘disunited kingdom’ as Commons approves English votes for English laws – Independent

Posted October 23rd, 2015 in bills, devolution, news, parliament, Scotland, veto by michael

‘The Government was accused of risking the creation of  a “disunited kingdom” after the Commons approved an historic change to give English MPs a veto over laws which affect only England.’

Full story

Independent, 22nd October 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Legal highs: Psychoactive drugs policy ‘rushed’, say MPs – BBC News

Posted October 23rd, 2015 in bills, drug offences, news by michael

‘Legislation to ban new psychoactive substances in the UK is being rushed, MPs have warned.’

Full story

BBC News, 22nd October 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk