Category: spying

EXTRADITION: An Introduction – 5SAH

Posted November 1st, 2024 in chambers articles, disclosure, extradition, freedom of expression, human rights, international law, news, Russia, spying, Supreme Court, Ukraine, war by tracey

‘Extradition is a tool that allows countries to stretch law enforcement beyond its borders. It can be used to promote international co-operation and positive relations between states, but it can also give rise to power struggles and be used as an instrument for political gains. As such, extradition occupies a unique space, creating a tension between upholding human rights, resisting political interference and upholding international treaty obligations. In this extradition article, the team at 5SAH looks back at the key moments in extradition law from the last 12 months and looks forward to what might be on the horizon.’

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5SAH , 21st October 2024

Source: www.5sah.co.uk

Met apologises for spying on police justice campaigners in 1980s and 1990s – The Guardian

Posted July 2nd, 2024 in demonstrations, London, news, police, spying by tracey

‘The Metropolitan police have issued a series of wide-ranging apologies to campaigners for the “indefensible” use of undercover officers to spy on them, a public inquiry has heard.’

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The Guardian, 1st July 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Julian Assange leaves UK after striking deal with US justice department – The Guardian

Posted June 25th, 2024 in freedom of expression, guilty pleas, news, plea bargaining, spying by tracey

‘Julian Assange has been released from a British prison and is expected to plead guilty to violating US espionage law, in a deal that would allow him to return home to his native Australia.’

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The Guardian, 25th June 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Julian Assange to find out next week if he can appeal against extradition to US – The Guardian

Posted February 19th, 2024 in appeals, confidentiality, extradition, freedom of expression, news, spying, whistleblowers by tracey

‘In a matter of days Julian Assange will find out if he has exhausted all potential challenges through the British courts to being extradited to the US, where he could spend the rest of his life in prison. The two-day hearing is scheduled to take place in London on Tuesday and Wednesday next week, as he seeks leave to appeal against his extradition for publishing thousands of classified military and diplomatic documents.’

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The Guardian, 16th February 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK government’s refusal to confirm Skripal spy role is ‘surreal’, lawyers say – The Guardian

Posted September 7th, 2023 in news, poisoning, Russia, spying by sally

‘Lawyers for the family of the woman who died in the Wiltshire novichok poisonings have claimed the UK government’s refusal to confirm that Sergei Skripal was a spy was like a scene from Alice in Wonderland.’

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The Guardian, 6th September 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Law Commission recommendations on espionage offences implemented in National Security Act 2023 – Law Commission

Posted July 17th, 2023 in Law Commission, news, official secrets act, spying by tracey

‘On Tuesday 11 July, the Law Commission’s recommendations on espionage became law as the National Security Act secured Royal Assent.’

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Law Commission, 13th July 2023

Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk

Inquiry into novichok death of Dawn Sturgess to begin in autumn 2024 – The Guardian

Posted April 4th, 2023 in inquiries, news, poisoning, Russia, spying by sally

‘The long-awaited independent inquiry into the death of Dawn Sturgess in the Wiltshire novichok poisonings will begin in autumn 2024, the Guardian can reveal.’

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The Guardian, 3rd April 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Embassy employee convicted of spying for the Russian State – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted February 17th, 2023 in Crown Prosecution Service, embassies, imprisonment, news, official secrets act, Russia, sentencing, spying by tracey

‘A security guard at the British Embassy in Berlin has been convicted of spying for Russia.’

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Crown Prosecution Service, 16th February 2023

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

National security bill may have ‘chilling effect’ on investigative journalism in UK – The Guardian

Posted January 12th, 2023 in bills, intelligence services, media, news, spying, whistleblowers by sally

‘The UK’s proposed national security bill could have a “chilling effect” on investigative journalism because it sets too low a bar on what constitutes spying, the deputy chair of the Telegraph newspapers has warned.’

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The Guardian, 11th January 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Legislation to counter state threats – Home Office

Posted July 13th, 2022 in bills, consultations, government departments, intelligence services, news, spying, statistics by tracey

‘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

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

Posted June 6th, 2022 in bills, government departments, intelligence services, investigatory powers, news, spying by tracey

‘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

Julian Assange wins first stage of attempt to appeal against extradition – The Guardian

Posted January 26th, 2022 in appeals, extradition, freedom of expression, news, spying, Supreme Court by sally

‘The WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange will be able to go to the supreme court in the UK to challenge a decision allowing him to be extradited to the US to face espionage charges.’

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The Guardian, 24th January 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Julian Assange can be extradited to US to face espionage charges, court rules – The Guardian

Posted December 10th, 2021 in disclosure, extradition, freedom of expression, news, spying by michael

‘Julian Assange can be extradited to the US, the high court has ruled as it overturned a judgment earlier this year.’

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The Guardian, 10th December 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Julian Assange: what to expect from the extradition appeal – The Guardian

Posted October 27th, 2021 in appeals, extradition, mental health, news, spying, suicide by sally

‘The year began with a legal defeat for an attempt to extradite Julian Assange to face espionage charges in the US, but he has remained in Belmarsh prison pending an appeal.’

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The Guardian, 26th October 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK introducing three laws that threaten human rights, says UN expert – The Guardian

Posted June 25th, 2021 in bills, climate change, demonstrations, environmental protection, freedom of expression, government departments, human rights, investigatory powers, judicial review, news, police, public order, spying, United Nations by tracey

‘Boris Johnson’s government is introducing three pieces of legislation that will make human rights violations more likely to occur and less likely to be sanctioned even as averting climate catastrophe depends on these rights, the UN special rapporteur for human rights and the environment has said.’

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The Guardian, 24th June 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Employee Monitoring as a Form of Imprisonment – Jeevan Hariharan and Hadassa Noorda – UK Labour Law

Posted May 21st, 2021 in employment, human rights, imprisonment, news, privacy, spying by tracey

‘A cursory Google search of employee monitoring tools reveals the breadth of technologies now available for companies to track worker activity. The top results are dominated by advertisements for software with features like keystroke logging, website monitoring, video surveillance and geolocational tracking, all with the goals of keeping managers informed and harnessing productivity. While monitoring employees is hardly a new phenomenon, the interest in such technologies has dramatically increased as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic with the surge of people working from home (WFH). From a legal perspective, the permissibility of these monitoring practices is complex.’

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UK Labour Law, 19th May 2021

Source: uklabourlawblog.com

MI5 undercover agent policy held lawful – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted March 29th, 2021 in appeals, criminal justice, human rights, intelligence services, investigatory powers, murder, news, Northern Ireland, police, privacy, spying by tracey

‘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

Posted March 10th, 2021 in appeals, criminal justice, human rights, intelligence services, investigatory powers, news, proportionality, public interest, spying by sally

‘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

DWP uses excessive surveillance on suspected fraudsters, report finds – The Guardian

Posted February 15th, 2021 in benefits, charities, closed circuit television, fraud, government departments, investigatory powers, news, privacy, proportionality, spying by sally

‘Suspected benefit fraudsters in the UK are being subjected to excessive surveillance techniques such as being tailed by government officers or identified in CCTV footage, according to a report.’

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The Guardian, 14th February 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Peers vote to ban spies from committing murder, rape and torture under new law – The Independent

Posted January 14th, 2021 in bills, intelligence services, investigatory powers, murder, news, rape, spying, torture by tracey

‘Peers have voted to ban spies from committing murder, rape and torture under a controversial new law – three months after MPs refused to bring in the same restrictions.’

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The Independent, 13th January 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk