Chilcot inquiry must restore trust in government, says top lawyer – The Guardian

Posted July 4th, 2016 in armed forces, inquiries, intelligence services, Iraq, news, parliament, prosecutions, war by michael

‘One of Britain’s leading experts in international law has said that the Chilcot inquiry into the Iraq war must deliver a convincing account of the mistakes that led to the 2003 conflict to help restore public trust in politics.’

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The Guardian, 3rd July 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

 

Battle to stop Jack Straw facing Libya rendition charges – The Guardian

‘The government has spent at least £600,000 of taxpayers’ money trying to prevent a civil case being brought against it by a husband and wife who allege that British intelligence was complicit in their detention, rendition and torture.’

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The Guardian, 26th June 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Crown Prosecution Service statement: Operation Lydd – CPS News Brief

‘The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has considered a file of evidence from the Metropolitan Police relating to one suspect in connection with allegations made concerning the movement and alleged ill treatment of Abdel Hakim Belhadj and his wife, Fatima Boudchar, and Sami Al Saadi and his wife and children from countries in South East Asia to Libya in 2004.’

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CPS News Brief, 9th June 2016

Source: http://blog.cps.gov.uk

CPS will not bring charges against MI6 over rendition of Libyan families – The Guardian

‘Prosecutors are set to announce that they are bringing no charges following a police investigation into MI6’s involvement in the kidnapping of two families who were “rendered” to the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi’s prisons, despite protests by the victims and their lawyers that the evidence against the agency is overwhelming.’

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The Guardian, 8th June 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Independent review of the operational case for bulk powers: terms of reference – Home Office

Posted June 7th, 2016 in bills, intelligence services, investigatory powers, news by tracey

‘Terms of reference for an independent review of the operational case for bulk powers.’

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Home Office, 7th June 2016

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office

Bulk data collection not ‘inherently incompatible’ with right to privacy, say UK law makers – OUT-LAW.com

‘Giving the intelligence and security services a right to collect data about citizens in bulk is not “inherently incompatible” with people’s right to privacy, a UK parliamentary committee has said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 2nd June 2016

Source: www.out-law.com

Fingerprints and DNA of up to 800 terror suspects destroyed because of errors by spies and the police – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 27th, 2016 in DNA, fingerprints, intelligence services, news, police, terrorism by tracey

‘The fingerprint and DNA profiles of up to 800 terror suspects have been destroyed because of errors by spies and the police, it has emerged.’

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Daily Telegraph, 26th May 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Theresa May agrees to review of snooper’s charter powers – The Guardian

‘Labour has edged closer to supporting the “snooper’s charter” after the home secretary, Theresa May, agreed to order an independent review of proposed state surveillance powers.’

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The Guardian, 24th May 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Birmingham pub bombings: coroner receives ‘significant’ information about whether MI5 had prior knowledge – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 13th, 2016 in explosives, inquests, intelligence services, news, terrorism by tracey

‘The coroner who is considering re-opening the inquests into the 1974 Birmingham pub bombings has received “significant” new information about whether MI5 knew about the IRA attacks in advance.’

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Daily Telegraph, 12th May 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

UK drone strikes ‘could leave all those involved facing murder charges’ – The Guardian

‘British drone pilots, intelligence officers and ministers could face murder charges if the government does not clarify its policies on targeted killing, a parliamentary committee has warned.’

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The Guardian, 10th May 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Murder conviction of Chinese MI6 informant referred to appeal court – The Guardian

Posted April 29th, 2016 in appeals, informers, intelligence services, murder, news by tracey

‘The murder conviction of a leading Chinese dissident and MI6 informant has been referred to the court of appeal after the Guardian uncovered evidence that was withheld by the police.’

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The Guardian, 28th April 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

UK spy agencies have collected bulk personal data since 1990s, files show – The Guardian

‘Britain’s intelligence agencies have been secretly collecting bulk personal data since the late 1990s and privately admit they have gathered information on people who are “unlikely to be of intelligence or security interest”.’

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The Guardian, 21st April 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

European parliament set to pass passenger data law – The Guardian

Posted April 14th, 2016 in airports, data protection, EC law, intelligence services, news by sally

‘A counter-terrorism plan to share air-passenger data is set to become European law after five years of wrangling over security needs and privacy concerns.’

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The Guardian, 13th April 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

EU court hears case on UK data retention laws – OUT-LAW.com

‘The EU’s highest court will hear arguments on Tuesday concerning the validity of UK data retention laws.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 12th April 2016

Source: www.out-law.com

European court to consider legality of UK surveillance laws – The Guardian

Posted April 12th, 2016 in bills, courts, EC law, intelligence services, investigatory powers, news by sally

‘The legality of Britain’s surveillance laws will come under the intense scrutiny of 15 European judges on Tuesday in a politically sensitive test case that could limit powers to gather online data.’

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The Guardian, 11th April 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Chilcot Inquiry into Iraq war to be vetted by spies ahead of summer publication – The Independent

‘Britain’s intelligence agencies are preparing to vet the final version of the Chilcot Inquiry’s report into the Iraq war ahead of publication this summer.’

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The Independent, 10th April 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Secret court hearing to rule on Foreign Office’s evaluation of human rights – The Guardian

‘A three-year battle by the Foreign Office (FCO) to keep secret how diplomatic issues colour its human rights decisions reached its climax on Thursday, in a court case that was itself largely held in secret at the insistence of the security services.’

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The Guardian, 7th April 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Byron Karemba: The Investigatory Powers Bill: Introducing Judicial Authorisation of Surveillance Warrants in the United Kingdom – Putting the ‘Double-Lock’ in Focus (Part I) – UK Constitutional Law Association

‘When the Home Secretary commended the Draft Investigatory Powers Bill for pre-legislative scrutiny in November 2015, she lauded the oversight mechanisms in the Bill as ‘world-leading.’ A seminal feature of this new regime is the creation of a single Investigatory Powers Commissioner (IPCr) who is aided by a set of Judicial Commissioners (JCs) in exercising both ex ante and ex post facto oversight over the use of a range of surveillance measures. The IPCr will replace the existing fragmented (RIPA Part VI) framework of the Intelligence Services Commissioner, the Office of Surveillance Commissioner and the Interception of Communications Commissioner whom hitherto have (largely) conducted ex post facto oversight functions.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 22nd March 2016

Source: www.ukconstitutionallaw.org

EU referendum: Rules giving ‘free pass’ to terror suspects – BBC News

‘Being in the EU makes it harder for the UK to stop serious criminals and those with suspected terror links entering the country, a UK minister is to say.’

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BBC News, 30th March 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

EU judges could limit UK surveillance powers before referendum – The Guardian

Posted March 29th, 2016 in EC law, intelligence services, investigatory powers, news, police, referendums by sally

‘EU judges in Luxembourg could limit key powers in UK surveillance laws just weeks before Britain votes on its EU membership.’

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The Guardian, 27th March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk