High Court rules on preliminary issues in challenge relating to alleged UK involvement in torture – UK Human Rights Blog

‘In R (Reprieve & Ors) v Prime Minister [2020] EWHC 1695 (Admin), the High Court made a preliminary ruling that Article 6(1) of the ECHR does not apply to the forthcoming judicial review of the Government’s decision not to establish a public inquiry into allegations that the UK intelligence services were involved in the torture, mistreatment and rendition of detainees in the aftermath of 9/11. It was further held that the claimants are not entitled to the level of disclosure of open material outlined in SSHD v AF (No 3) [2009].’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 9th July 2020

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Daniella Lock: The ‘Third Direction case’ Part One: Miller (Nos 1 and 2) in the National Security Context? – UK Constitutional Law Association

‘The ‘Third Direction case’, soon to be brought before the Court of Appeal, concerns the lawfulness of a previously secret national security policy of the UK Government. The policy authorises agents of the Security Service (MI5) to engage in criminal activity, which the claimants allege include the carrying out of torture and murder. Hearings on the case were held in November last year in the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT), a specialist tribunal which adjudicates complaints on state surveillance and the conduct of the Security Services (MI5, MI6 and GCHQ). The IPT produced a judgment remarkably quickly, published in December.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 7th July 2020

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

UK intelligence torture case to be held in secret after challenge fails – The Guardian

‘A judicial review aimed at overturning a decision to ditch a judge-led inquiry into the involvement of British intelligence in torture and rendition will be heard in secret after a challenge involving two MPs failed.’

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The Guardian, 30th June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Whitehall held secret review into 15 possible cases of torture or rendition – The Guardian

‘Fifteen potential cases of torture or rendition involving British intelligence at the height of the “war on terror” were examined last year in a secret Whitehall review, whose existence was revealed in court proceedings on Tuesday.’

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The Guardian, 9th June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Judge orders MI5 not to delete databanks before end of surveillance trial – The Guardian

Posted February 11th, 2020 in data protection, intelligence services, investigatory powers, news by sally

‘MI5 has been ordered by a senior judge not to delete vast databanks of personal information it is storing pending the outcome of a trial over the legality of its surveillance procedures.’

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The Guardian, 10th February 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

MI5 May Be Forced To Destroy ‘Unlawfully’ Handled Personal Data – Each Other

Posted February 4th, 2020 in data protection, intelligence services, news, privacy by sally

‘Privacy groups have launched fresh legal challenge to pressure MI5 into destroying personal data which it has handled “unlawfully”.’

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Each Other, 3rd February 2020

Source: eachother.org.uk

Human rights court dismisses MI6 informant Wang Yam’s appeal – The Guardian

Posted January 17th, 2020 in appeals, closed material, health & safety, intelligence services, murder, news by tracey

‘The European court of human rights has dismissed the appeal by the former Chinese dissident and MI6 informant Wang Yam that he had not had a fair trial because his defence evidence was held in secret on grounds of national security.’

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The Guardian, 16th January 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Rendition: refusal to hold UK public inquiry to face judicial review – The Guardian

Posted December 2nd, 2019 in inquiries, intelligence services, judicial review, news, rendition, terrorism, torture by sally

‘The government’s refusal to hold a public inquiry into allegations that the security services were complicit in the torture and abduction of terror suspects after 9/11 is to be subjected to a full scale legal challenge.’

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The Guardian, 2nd December 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

MI5 policy ‘gives agents legal immunity to commit serious crimes’ – The Guardian

Posted November 6th, 2019 in human rights, immunity, intelligence services, news, prosecutions, torture by sally

‘MI5 operates a partially secret policy that allows agents to participate in serious crimes including torture and killing, a security tribunal has heard.’

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The Guardian, 5th November 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Public inquiry to be held into Manchester terror attack to allow security services to give evidence – Daily Telegraph

‘A public inquiry will be held into the Manchester Arena terror attack so that evidence from the security services and counter-terrorism police can be heard in camera.’

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Daily Telegraph, 22nd October 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

UK and US sign landmark Data Access Agreement – Home Office

‘Home Secretary Priti Patel last night (Thursday 3 October) signed an historic agreement that will enable British law enforcement agencies to directly demand electronic data relating to terrorists, child sexual abusers and other serious criminals from US tech firms.’

FUll press release

Home Office, 4th October 2019

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office

British police to demand data from US tech giants directly after delays to paedophile investigations – The Independent

‘British police and intelligence agencies will be able to demand suspects’ social media data directly from American technology giants under a new agreement signed with the US government. The Home Office said the landmark agreement would speed up investigations into alleged terrorists, paedophiles and serious criminals.’

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The Independent, 4th October 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

The implications of ‘bulk hacking’ – Henderson Chambers

‘Corporate Crime analysis: Matthew Richardson, barrister at Henderson Chambers, examines the concept of ‘bulk hacking’ by intelligence services and some of the legal implications, in light of the latest judicial review challenge by Liberty.’

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Henderson Chambers, 9th August 2019

Source: www.hendersonchambers.co.uk

Liberty loses high court challenge to snooper’s charter – The Guardian

‘The human rights group Liberty has lost its latest high court challenge against the government’s mass surveillance powers.’

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The Guardian, 29th July 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

MI5 engaged in ‘extraordinary and persistent illegality’ whilst handling personal data, High Court hears – Daily Telegraph

‘MI5 has been unlawfully holding people’s data collected through surveillance or hacking programmes, the high court has been told.’

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Daily Telegraph, 11th June 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

UK’s Top Spy Watchdog Steps Down, Commits To Review ‘Torture Loophole’ By October – Rights Info

Posted June 3rd, 2019 in intelligence services, ministers' powers and duties, news, torture by sally

‘The UK’s top spy watchdog has announced he will be stepping down in October, a week after a secret policy allowing ministers to approve actions that could lead to torture was revealed.’

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Rights Info, 31st May 2019

Source: rightsinfo.org

Home Secretary speech on keeping our country safe – Home Office

Posted May 23rd, 2019 in intelligence services, investigatory powers, police, speeches, terrorism by tracey

‘Home Secretary Sajid Javid spoke on security, the threat from terrorism and the importance of international collaboration.’

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Home Office, 20th May 2019

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office

UK government security decisions can be challenged in court, judges rule – The Guardian

‘Government security decisions will in future be open to challenge in the courts after judges ruled that a secretive intelligence tribunal could not be exempt from legal action.’

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The Guardian, 15th May 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

High Court gives green light to judicial review challenge over guidance on use of children as spies – Local Government Lawyer

‘The High Court has granted charity Just for Kids Law permission to proceed with its judicial review challenge over the use of children as spies by the police and other investigative agencies.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 4th March 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Speech by Sir Rabinder Singh: Kay Everett Memorial Lecture – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted February 22nd, 2019 in human rights, intelligence services, investigatory powers, lectures, tribunals by tracey

‘The second Kay Everett memorial lecture was delivered by the President of the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, Sir Rabinder Singh, on Wednesday 20 February 2019.’

Full speech

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 21st February 2019

Source: www.judiciary.uk