Police watchdog refuses to back use of stop and search without suspicion – The Guardian

‘The official inspectorate has refused to back police use of powers to stop and search people without suspicion, finding that chiefs cannot explain why black people are 12 times more likely to be targeted.’

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The Guardian, 15th December 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Met Police: Communities traumatised by stop and search – BBC News

Posted October 13th, 2023 in investigatory powers, London, news, police, race discrimination, racism, stop and search by tracey

‘A senior Metropolitan Police officer says stop and search, when done poorly, has traumatised communities in London. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan said the force recognised it needed a “reset”.’

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BBC news, 13th October 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Met police admit overusing powers to strip-search children after IOPC inquiry – The Guardian

‘Scotland Yard has admitted overusing its power to strip-search children after four of its officers were told they would face disciplinary proceedings over allegations that their search of a 15-year-old black schoolgirl known as Child Q was inappropriate and amounted to discrimination owing to her race and sex.’

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The Guardian, 14th September 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Lord Anderson publishes review of Investigatory Powers Act – Home Office

‘Lord Anderson has published his independent review of the Investigatory Powers Act 2016.’

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Home Office, 30th June 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Police urged to use stop and search to save more lives – Home Office

‘Police leaders must make sure their officers are confident to use stop and search powers wherever necessary, to seize dangerous weapons and prevent knife crime.’

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Home Office, 20th June 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Home Office faces legal claims over seizure of asylum seekers’ phones – The Guardian

‘The Home Office faces a wave of legal claims after the UK’s surveillance watchdog found a blanket policy of seizing thousands of asylum seekers’ mobile phones caused “significant harm”.’

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The Guardian, 4th June 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Better protection for rape victims from invasive record requests – Home Office

‘The Home Office will legislate to protect people, including rape victims, from unnecessary requests for personal records.’

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Home Office, 20th January 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

News focus: Big Brother watch – time for intercept evidence to be admissible in court? – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 20th, 2022 in admissibility, encryption, evidence, investigatory powers, news, telecommunications by tracey

‘Intercepts remain inadmissible as evidence, which makes our jurisdiction an outlier. Is it time to allow their use, when this could boost transparency and build public confidence?’

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Law society's Gazette, 20th September 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

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

Home Secretary permanently lifts restrictions on police stop-and-search powers – The Independent

‘The Home Secretary is permanently lifting restrictions placed on police in the use of stop-and-search powers as part of the Government’s strategy to tackle violent crime.’

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The Independent, 16th May 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Boost for public safety as four justice bills receive Royal Assent – Ministry of Justice

‘The government delivers on its pledge to protect the public better and restore confidence in the criminal justice system as four major bills became law today (28 April).’

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Ministry of Justice, 28th April 2022

Source: www.gov.uk

Research briefing: Police powers: an introduction – House of Commons Library

Posted October 25th, 2021 in crime prevention, criminal justice, investigatory powers, news, parliament, police by tracey

‘This commons library briefing paper introduces a series on police powers.’

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House of Commons Library, 21st October 2021

Source: commonslibrary.parliament.uk

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

Concern police will be able to ‘strong-arm’ NHS to hand over patient data under new plans – The Independent

‘Police forces will be able to “strong-arm” NHS bodies into handing over confidential patient data under planned laws that have sparked fury from doctors’ groups and the UK’s medical watchdog.’

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The Independent, 17th October 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Deceived activist Kate Wilson wins tribunal against Met Police – BBC News

‘An activist who was deceived into a relationship with an undercover police officer has won a tribunal case for breaches of her human rights.’

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BBC News, 30th September 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Cressida Dick: Tech giants make it impossible to stop terrorists – BBC News

‘The Metropolitan Police commissioner has accused tech giants of making it harder to identify and stop terrorists.’

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BBC News, 12th September 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Civil liberties groups demand ban of use of facial recognition technology by police – Local Government Lawyer

‘Liberty, Privacy International and 29 other organisations have called for Parliament to ban the use of live facial recognition technology (LFRT) by the police and private companies.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 31st August 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Police powers: detention and custody – House of Commons Library

Posted August 20th, 2021 in custody, detention, investigatory powers, mental health, news, parliament, police by sally

‘This Commons Library briefing paper describes police detention powers and outlines a recent history of their reform. It also describes the police custody estate.’

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House of Commons Library, 19th August 2021

Source: commonslibrary.parliament.uk

New police CCTV use rules criticised as bare bones – BBC News

‘A proposed code of practice covering police use of live facial recognition in England and Wales has been criticised by human rights groups.’

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BBC News 17th August 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Research Briefing: Police powers: detention and custody – House of Commons Library

‘This Commons Library briefing paper describes police detention powers and outlines a recent history of their reform. It also describes the police custody estate.’

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House of Commons Library, 3rd August 2021

Source: commonslibrary.parliament.uk