High Court refuses to condemn US drone strikes – UK Human Rights Blog

“In this unsuccessful application for permission to apply for judicial review, the Claimant sought to challenge the Defendant’s reported policy of permitting GCHQ employees to pass intelligence to the US for the purposes of drone strikes in Pakistan. The Claimant’s father was killed during such an attack in March 2011.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 9th January 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

High Court blocks US drone intelligence case – BBC News

Posted December 21st, 2012 in disclosure, intelligence services, news, weapons by tracey

“The High Court has rejected an attempt by a Pakistani man to force the UK government to reveal if it is providing intelligence for US drone strikes.”

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BBC News, 21st December 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ken Clarke fails to rule out need for secret courts in MoD cases – The Guardian

“Secret court hearings could be used when the families of soldiers who die as a result of Ministry of Defence failures pursue compensation claims, the minister responsible for the justice and security bill has admitted.”

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The Guardian, 18th December 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

‘Snooper’s charter’ faces rough ride through parliament – The Guardian

“Civil liberties are said to have been the political glue that brought the two coalition parties together before the general election, and nothing joined them more strongly than their joint opposition to Labour’s ‘Big Brother’ database.”

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The Guardian, 11th December 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Ex-SAS Officer to sue Metropolitan Police – Daily Telegraph

“A former head of the SAS’s counter-terrorist team is suing the Metropolitan Police claiming he was wrongfully accused of leaking secret intelligence reports to a journalist.”

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Daily Telegraph, 8th December 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Internet surveillance will save lives, says Theresa May – Daily Telegraph

“Lives will be saved by new internet powers allowing security services and police to snoop on emails, web visits and social networking sites, Home Secretary Theresa May has said.”

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Daily Telegraph, 3rd December 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Secret courts suffer humiliating defeat in House of Lords – Daily Telegraph

“Peers delivered a series of humiliating defeats on Wednesday night to government plans to introduce secret courts.”

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The Guardian, 21st November 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Ken Clarke defends ‘secret courts’ proposal – The Guardian

Posted November 19th, 2012 in bills, closed material, intelligence services, news, private hearings by sally

“Ken Clarke has defended his proposals to allow judges to hear evidence relating to national security in secret, saying the current law ‘does not work well’ in civil claims.”

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The Guardian, 19th November 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Crucial battle against UK ‘secret courts’ begins in earnest – The Guardian

Posted November 15th, 2012 in bills, closed material, intelligence services, news, parliament, private hearings by sally

“The House of Lords on Monday is due to vote on one of the most contentious but important pieces of legislation to come before this parliament.”

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The Guardian, 14th November 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Former MI5 chief General Baroness Manningham-Buller backs proposals for judges to hear intelligence evidence in secret – The Independent

“Intelligence relationships between the UK and other countries could be ‘seriously jeopardised’ unless judges are allowed to hear evidence in secret, a former MI5 chief has said today.”

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The Independent, 14th November 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Secret courts plan is radical departure from open justice, says committee – The Guardian

“Secret court hearings should protect only the identity of UK intelligence officers, their sources and security material provided by foreign allies, a critical parliamentary report warns.”

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The Guardian, 13th November 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Civil liberties stance over secret courts plan too simplistic, says Ken Clarke – The Guardian

Posted November 5th, 2012 in bills, closed material, human rights, intelligence services, news by sally

“Civil liberties groups are being too ‘simplistic’ and purist in their opposition to the government’s justice and security bill, Ken Clarke has said.”

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The Guardian, 2nd November 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Watchdog warns over secret hearings – The Independent

“Government plans to extend the use of secret hearings in courts are not compatible with the Human Rights Act, the equalities watchdog has said.”

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The Independent, 31st October 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Ken Clarke hits back over secret courts – The Guardian

“Clarke insists that under the justice and security bill nothing currently heard in open court would be moved to closed court.”

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The Guardian, 26th October 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Criminals could avoid surveillance of their communications even under expanded regime, says Information Commissioner – OUT-LAW.com

Posted October 18th, 2012 in bills, electronic mail, intelligence services, news, telecommunications by sally

“Serious criminals will be able to avoid details of their communications being monitored under an expanded intelligence gathering regime proposed by the Government, the UK’s data protection watchdog has warned.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 17th October 2012

Source: www.out-law.com

US ‘influenced British government’s decision to introduce secret courts’ – The Guardian

Posted October 17th, 2012 in bills, closed material, disclosure, intelligence services, news, terrorism, torture by tracey

“The US government and its intelligence agencies were influential in the UK government decision to introduce a highly controversial new generation of secret courts, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation has told MPs and peers.”

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The Guardian, 16th October 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Draft Communications Bill: Powers may uncover ‘wrong targets’ – BBC News

“Plans to monitor all Britons’ online activity risk uncovering ‘incompetent criminals and accidental anarchists’ rather than serious offenders, the information commissioner has warned.”

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BBC News, 16th October 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Member of UK security services granted anonymity in sexual assault trial – The Guardian

Posted October 11th, 2012 in anonymity, intelligence services, news, sexual offences by sally

“A member of the British security services has been granted anonymity for a trial in which he is accused of sexually assaulting a female colleague within the intelligence community.”

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The Guardian, 10th October 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Time to untangle the debate over secret courts – UK Human Rights Blog

“Tomorrow (25 September), Liberal Democrats will debate the Justice and Security Bill and will vote on saying no to the Government’s controversial secret courts proposals. Played in the press as a good opportunity to put clear blue water between the coalition partners, the motion will give a party members a chance to speak out on a Bill which many see as an anathema to the traditional liberal commitment to open, fair and equal access to justice.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 24th September 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Secret courts: the essential guide – The Guardian

Posted September 25th, 2012 in bills, closed material, courts, intelligence services, news, private hearings by sally

“Is the justice and security bill a threat to fundamental legal liberties or a necessary veil to protect state secrets? Here’s what you need to know about the expansion of trials behind closed courtroom doors.”

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The Guardian, 25th September 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk