Legal services exemption in ‘foreign agents’ clampdown – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Providers of legal services will be exempt from requirements to register as agents of a foreign power under proposed security legislation, the government revealed today. It was announcing the introduction of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme under an amendment to the National Security Bill.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 18th October 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Should Shamima Begum be allowed to return to the UK to argue her case? – The Guardian

‘It is not new – although it is eyecatching – to report that Shamima Begum, then 15, was helped to travel to Syria and join Islamic State by a Canadian agent. Mohammed al-Rashed was picked up by the Turkish authorities in March 2015, and said at the time he was an informant for Canadian intelligence, and had helped Begum travel from Istanbul airport to the Syrian border a few days earlier.’

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The Guardian, 31st August 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK policing and border control infiltrated by war mentality, says report – The Guardian

‘Policing, border control and surveillance have become increasingly militarised in the UK and infiltrated by a “war mentality”, according to a report.’

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The Guardian, 4th August 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Legislation to counter state threats – Home Office

‘This is the government’s response to the Legislation to Counter State Threats (Hostile State Activity) public consultation.’

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Home Office, 12th July 2022

Source: www.gov.uk

Legislation aims to shield UK internet users from state-backed disinformation – The Guardian

‘Tech firms will be required to shield internet users from state-sponsored disinformation posing a threat to UK society and democracy, under changes to a landmark online safety bill.’

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The Guardian, 4th July 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Patel calls on MPs to back ‘vitally important’ changes to espionage laws – The Independent

‘The UK cannot be “passive in the face of malign covert activity” from hostile states, Home Secretary Priti Patel is expected to say, as she calls on MPs to back “vitally important measures” to overhaul espionage laws and bolster security powers.’

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The Independent, 6th June 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Agent’s abused former partner in legal action against MI5 – BBC News

‘A woman who was terrorised and abused by an MI5 agent is taking legal action against the security service.’

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BBC News, 21st May 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

BBC to air MI5 agent investigation following High Court ruling – The Independent

Posted May 19th, 2022 in anonymity, BBC, informers, intelligence services, news, public interest by sally

‘The BBC said a High Court ruling will allow it to broadcast a programme about a man it is claimed exploited his status as an MI5 informant.’

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The Independent, 18th May 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

BBC blocked from naming alleged MI5 informant accused of abusing women – The Guardian

‘The BBC has been banned from identifying a “dangerous extremist and misogynist” who is allegedly an MI5 informant, after a high court judge granted an injunction.’

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The Guardian, 7th April 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

High Court to rule on bid for injunction to block BBC story over ‘MI5 informant’ – The Independent

‘The High Court is due to give a ruling on whether the BBC can identify a “dangerous extremist and misogynist” who is allegedly an MI5 informant.’

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The Independent, 6th April 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Court bid to prevent BBC airing MI5 agent probe – BBC News

‘The government wants to stop a BBC programme that alleges an MI5 agent is a dangerous extremist and misogynist, who abused two former female partners.’

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BBC News, 24th February 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Coroner criticises failure to share MI5 intelligence on Fishmongers’ Hall killer – The Guardian

Posted November 4th, 2021 in coroners, intelligence services, news, police, probation, terrorism by sally

‘Collective failures by the security services, police and probation officers before the terrorist killings at Fishmongers’ Hall in London must be addressed to avoid a similar attack in future, a coroner has warned.’

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The Guardian, 3rd November 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Is Prevent a waste of time? – Daily Telegraph

‘As the counter-terrorism programme comes under scrutiny again following the killing of Sir David Amess, is it fit for purpose?’

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Daily Telegraph, 18th October 2021

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

GCHQ’s mass data interception violated right to privacy, court rules – The Guardian

‘The UK spy agency GCHQ’s methods for bulk interception of online communications violated the right to privacy and the regime for collection of data was unlawful, the grand chamber of the European court of human rights has ruled.’

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The Guardian, 25th May 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Longer jail terms and stricter monitoring as new terror laws gain Royal Assent – Ministry of Justice

‘The biggest shake-up of terrorist sentencing and monitoring in decades has been granted Royal Assent today (29 April 2021) – giving the courts, police and security services greater powers to protect the public.’

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 29th April 2021

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

Security services and police to face questions over London Bridge attacker – The Guardian

Posted April 12th, 2021 in inquests, intelligence services, news, police, recidivists, rehabilitation, terrorism by tracey

‘The security services and police are to face questions over whether they missed the chance to stop a convicted terrorist out on licence with an electronic tag who stabbed two people to death. On Monday, the inquests open into the deaths of Jack Merritt, 25, and Saskia Jones, 23, who were killed in the November 2019 attack at Fishmongers hall, near London Bridge at a prisoner rehabilitation conference.’

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The Guardian, 12th April 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Dawn Sturgess novichok death inquest to look at role of Russian state – The Guardian

Posted March 31st, 2021 in inquests, intelligence services, medical treatment, news, poisoning, Russia by tracey

‘The role the Russian state played in the death of a Wiltshire woman who was poisoned with the nerve agent novichok is to be investigated in detail at her inquest. Heather Hallett said she would carry out a “fearless” inquiry into the death of Dawn Sturgess including digging into who directed the operation to bring novichok into the UK.’

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The Guardian, 30th March 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

MI5 undercover agent policy held lawful – UK Human Rights Blog

‘In Privacy International & Ors v Secretary of State for Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs & Ors [2021] EWCA Civ 330, the Court of Appeal held that the policy which authorises officers of the Security Service (MI5) to run undercover agents who participate in the commission of criminal offences is lawful.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 26th March 2021

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

MI5 policy allowing agents to commit crimes was legal, say judges – The Guardian

‘MI5’s partially secret policy of allowing agents to participate in serious crimes in pursuit of intelligence was legal, three court of appeal judges have concluded.’

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The Guardian, 9th March 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

New Acts – legislation.gov.uk

Ministerial and other Maternity Allowances Act 2021

Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Act 2021

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk