Police must confront ‘poison of decades-old misdeeds’, Home Secretary tells officers at annual conference – The Independent

‘The police must confront the “poison of decades-old misdeeds”, the Home Secretary Theresa May has told officers, raising hopes that she is close to ordering an inquiry into police misconduct during the 1980s miners’ strike.’

Full story

The Independent, 17th May 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Judge Refuses To Force Alleged Hacker To Reveal His Passwords – RightsInfo

‘A UK law enforcement agency asked a court to force alleged hacker Lauri Love to reveal passwords for computers they confiscated. The Court said no. The problem? That would bypass human rights safeguards UK Parliament built into investigatory powers laws.’

Full story

RightsInfo, 11th May 2016

Source: www.rightsinfo.org

Court refuses request to force alleged hacker to divulge passwords – The Guardian

‘An alleged hacker fighting extradition to the US will not have to give the passwords for his encrypted computers to British law enforcement officers, following a landmark legal ruling.’

Full story

The Guardian, 10th May 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Money laundering: New law planned to target corrupt officials – BBC News

‘MPs, councillors and civil servants suspected of corruption are to be targeted by a new law proposed by the home secretary.’

Full story

BBC News, 21st April 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Investigation launched into claims undercover officer set fire to Debenhams store in 1980s – The Independent

Posted April 21st, 2016 in arson, demonstrations, explosives, investigatory powers, London, news, police by tracey

‘Claims an undercover officer set fire to a high street department store while infiltrating animal rights campaigners are being investigated by the police.’

Full story

The Independent, 20th April 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Byron Karemba: The Investigatory Powers Bill: Putting the Investigatory Powers Commissioner in Focus (Part II) – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted April 19th, 2016 in bills, investigatory powers, news, select committees by sally

‘Following on from the first post focusing on the double-lock in the Investigatory Powers Bill (“the Bill”). This second entry looks at the “institutional and procedural” issues around the introduction of judicial scrutiny of surveillance warrants in the UK. Therefore, attention is on the office of the Investigatory Powers Commissioner (IPCr) itself. I will assess the degree to which the IPCr is independent from the executive. Thereafter, consideration is given to the procedure by which the Judicial Commissioners (JCs) will conduct their ex ante oversight function. Concerns in both these areas were raised when a Draft version of the Bill was before a Joint Committee of Parliament (“the Committee”). After nearly four months of gathering both written and oral evidence, the Committee reported in February and the Bill got its second reading on March 15th this year.’

Full story

UK Constitutional Law Association, 15th April 2016

Source: www.ukconstitutionallaw.org

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.’

Full story

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.’

Full story

The Guardian, 11th 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.’

Full story

UK Constitutional Law Association, 22nd March 2016

Source: www.ukconstitutionallaw.org

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.’

Full story

The Guardian, 27th March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Police accused of concealing role of undercover officers from judges – The Guardian

Posted March 22nd, 2016 in evidence, inquiries, investigatory powers, news, police by sally

‘Police have been accused of concealing the involvement of two undercover officers in a long-running legal case from judges in the UK’s highest court.’

Full story

The Guardian, 21st March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Investigatory Powers Bill: May defends surveillance powers – BBC News

‘Home Secretary Theresa May has defended controversial new surveillance powers as MPs debated them for the first time.’

Full story

BBC News, 15th March 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

We need to get this investigatory powers bill right – it’s not fit for purpose now – The Guardian

Posted March 15th, 2016 in bills, intelligence services, internet, investigatory powers, news, privacy by sally

‘The second reading of the bill today is an opportunity for Labour to challenge the government on substance and process – and fight for a law fit for the 21st century.’

Full story

The Guardian, 15th March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

The snooper’s charter is flying through parliament. Don’t think it’s irrelevant to you – The Guardian

‘While the Apple v FBI row makes world headlines, people in the UK are disregarding a bill that permits hacking and gagging.’

Full story

The Guardian, 14th March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Investigatory Powers Bill published – Home Office

‘The Government introduced the Investigatory Powers Bill to Parliament today (Tuesday 1 March). The Bill sets out the powers available to the police, security and intelligence services to gather and access communications and communications data in the digital age, subject to strict safeguards and world-leading oversight arrangements.’

Full press release

Home Office, 1st March 2016

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office

Another rush job on surveillance that will weaken legal privilege – The Bar Council

‘Despite claims that new surveillance laws will contain “protections for lawyers”, today’s Investigatory Powers Bill will allow authorities total access to confidential, legally privileged communications between individuals and their lawyers, even when someone is in a legal dispute with the Government or defending themselves against prosecution.’

Full press release

The Bar Council, 2nd March 2016

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

UK spying laws: Government introduces law requiring WhatsApp and iMessage to break their own security – The Independent

‘The draft Investigatory Powers Bill, or Snoopers’ Charter, keeps a provision that weakening of security will only happen in cases where it is ‘practicable’, but that could still allow the Government to outlaw many of the most popular chat services as they currently exist.’

Full story

The Independent, 1st March 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Security Minister: What is real is reasonable – Home Office

‘John Hayes on the powers we need to keep Britain safe in the digital age.’

Full speech

Home Office, 25th February 2016

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office

GCHQ hacking does not breach human rights, security tribunal rules – The Guardian

‘Hacking of computers, networks and smartphones in the UK or abroad by GCHQ staff does not breach human rights, a security tribunal has ruled.’

Full story

The Guardian, 12th February 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Tribunal rules computer hacking by GCHQ is not illegal – BBC News

‘GCHQ is operating within the law when it hacks into computers and smart phones, a security tribunal has ruled.’

Full story

BBC News, 12th February 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk