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

‘Child spies’ bill could face Lords defeat as Tory peers rebel – The Guardian

‘Tory peers, bishops and crossbenchers could inflict defeat on the government after an outcry over new guidance which allows state agencies to use children as undercover spies as part of the government’s covert intelligence bill.’

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The Guardian, 13th January 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

MI6 kept quiet about ‘criminality’ of agent with ‘licence to kill’ – The Guardian

‘MI6 failed to make clear to the foreign secretary that a “high risk agent” operating overseas had probably engaged in “serious criminality” until it was pointed out by an independent regulator last year.’

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The Guardian, 15th December 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Kevin’s identity was stolen by police after he died’ – BBC News

‘David Crossland’s whole family died beside him on a holiday flight to Yugoslavia in September 1966. His wife Daphne, and their young children Kevin and Lynne were killed when their plane crashed in woods as it was approaching the airport in Ljubljana. David, who was sitting across the aisle from his wife and children, crawled to safety from the burning wreckage.’

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BBC News, 7th December 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Met faces legal action over spies’ use of dead children’s identities – The Guardian

Posted December 7th, 2020 in bereavement, children, families, news, police, professional conduct, spying by sally

‘The relatives of dead children whose identities were stolen by undercover police officers have launched legal action against the Metropolitan police over their resulting trauma.’

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The Guardian, 7th December 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

High Court refuses to strike out solicitor’s surveillance harassment claim – Legal Futures

‘The High Court has refused to strike out claims of harassment brought by a solicitor and his wife over surveillance of them carried out at the instruction of a former client.’

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Legal Futures, 30th November 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

How Your Boss Could Be Spying On You At Home – And What Your Rights Are – Each Other

‘There are reports of bosses in some parts of the world downloading programs which screenshot their staffs’ computers at regular intervals to monitor their productivity.’

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Each Other, 19th November 2020

Source: eachother.org.uk

Protesters spied on by undercover officers call for ‘end to political policing’ as inquiry begins – The Independent

‘Undercover Policing Inquiry to begin more than five years after being announced by Theresa May.’

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The Independent, 1st November 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Legal action taken against PM over refusal to investigate Kremlin meddling – The Guardian

‘A cross-party group of MPs and peers including a former national security adviser are taking legal action against Boris Johnson over his government’s refusal to order an inquiry into Russian interference in UK elections.’

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The Guardian, 29th October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Police spying inquiry to examine targeting of UK black justice groups – The Guardian

Posted October 29th, 2020 in bereavement, inquiries, minorities, news, police, race discrimination, racism, spying by sally

‘A public inquiry into undercover policing is poised to reveal details of how police repeatedly spied on black justice groups, including several run by grieving families whose relatives were killed by police or died in custody.’

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The Guardian, 28th October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Secrets and lies: untangling the UK ‘spy cops’ scandal – The Guardian

Posted October 29th, 2020 in inquiries, news, police, spying by sally

‘Those duped into having relationships with undercover police are hoping for answers from the inquiry.’

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The Guardian, 28th October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

The Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Bill 2020 – Garden Court Chambers

‘The Government recently submitted the Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Bill to Parliament. This Bill seeks to put the ability of undercover operatives to commit criminal offences in the course of their deployment on a statutory footing. It will be achieved by amending the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) to allow a diverse range of state agencies to authorise their Covert Human Intelligence Source (CHIS) to commit criminal offences where necessary for protecting national security, preventing or detecting crime or disorder, or protecting the economic wellbeing of the UK. This will have the effect of making such activity “lawful for all purposes”, which, without providing so explicitly, effectively means full civil and criminal immunity for those who act within the terms of the authorisation.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 8th October 2020

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

How smart devices are exploited for domestic abuse – BBC News

‘The number of domestic abuse cases has increased dramatically since the UK’s Covid lockdown – and tech has played a role.’

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BBC News, 18th October 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Met police pay compensation to man fathered by undercover officer – The Guardian

Posted October 8th, 2020 in compensation, news, paternity, police, psychiatric damage, spying by tracey

‘Force pays confidential sum to man who discovered at the age of 26 that his father, Bob Lambert, was a police officer rather than a leftwing activist.’

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The Guardian, 7th October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Reforms to UK’s antiquated spying laws published by Law Commission – Law Commission

‘Reform is needed to bring the law into the 21st century and protect the United Kingdom from espionage (spying) and unauthorised disclosures (leaks), according to a report from the Law Commission that has been laid in Parliament today [01 September 2020].’

Press release

Law Commission, 1st September 2020

Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk

Russia report: What would tougher spy laws mean for UK? – BBC News

Posted July 23rd, 2020 in intelligence services, news, reports, Russia, spying by sally

‘After the UK government is accused of underestimating the threat of Russian interference, ministers are considering strengthening security laws to require all foreign agents to register in the UK in future. What might that involve and what are the challenges?’

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BBC News, 22nd July 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Covert recordings: does the end justify the means? – 12 King’s Bench Walk

‘Covert recording is featuring increasingly in both employment and personal injury law – and the ramifications of recent decisions are yet to be fully played out. Two recent cases consider the issue from both sides in the workplace; Phoenix, featured covert recording by an employee and López considered covert surveillance by employers.’

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12 King's Bench Walk, 25th March 2020

Source: www.12kbw.co.uk

Met upholds complaint of woman ‘deceived’ by undercover officer – The Guardian

Posted February 25th, 2020 in complaints, misfeasance in public office, news, police, spying by sally

‘An internal police investigation has uncovered credible evidence that an undercover officer deceived a 19-year-old woman into a long-term sexual relationship.’

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The Guardian, 25th February 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

What are the rules on workplace surveillance? – BBC News

Posted February 21st, 2020 in computer programs, data protection, employment, human rights, news, privacy, spying by sally

‘Barclays has faced a backlash after it piloted a system that tracked the time employees spent at their desks. The company has since scrapped the system – but how common is workplace surveillance and what lengths are employers allowed to go to monitor their staff?‘

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BBC News, 20th February 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Legal loophole exposed after activist not prosecuted for ‘planting’ tracker on hunt vehicle – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 20th, 2020 in electronic monitoring, hunting, news, privacy, spying by sally

‘Countryside groups have called for tougher rules on the use of tracking devices after a huntswoman allegedly caught an anti-hunt activist planting one under her horse trailer.’

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Daily Telegraph, 18th January 2020

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk