Councils using anti-terror laws to spy on dog walkers – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 24th, 2010 in investigatory powers, local government, news, terrorism by sally

“Councils spied on dog walkers suspected of not clearing up after their pets in a string of abuses of their covert surveillance rights, a report published today said.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 24th May 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

UK’s secret surveillance regime does not breach human rights, rules ECHR – OUT-LAW.com

“The European Court of Human Rights has rejected a claim that the UK’s Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) violates the human right to a private life. The UK’s rules and safeguards on covert surveillance are proportionate, said the court.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 19th May 2010

Source: www.out-law.com

“Eye in the sky” arrest of a teenage thief could land police in court – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 16th, 2010 in aircraft, investigatory powers, news, police by sally

“An ‘eye in the sky’ arrest of a teenager fleeing from a stolen car using a surveillance drone could land police in court after it emerged it did not have permission to be in the air.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 16th February 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Judges examine rise in complaints against MI5 – The Independent

Posted January 6th, 2010 in complaints, intelligence services, investigatory powers, news by sally

“A record rise in the number of complaints against MI5 and other bodies authorised to spy on the public is being investigated by judges appointed to oversee the use of surveillance powers in Britain.”

Full story

The Independent, 6th January 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Former MI5 man loses supreme court case in memoirs fight – The Guardian

Posted December 10th, 2009 in confidentiality, intelligence services, investigatory powers, news, tribunals by sally

“Judges rule battle to publish book must be pursued in secretive investigatory powers tribunal.”

Full story

The Guardian, 9th December 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

R (A) v Director of Establishments of the Security Service – WLR Daily

R (A) v Director of Establishments of the Security Service [2009] UKSC 12; [2009] WLR (D) 356

“Jurisdiction to hear a claim against the intelligence services for a violation of the right to freedom of expression guaranteed by art 10 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms was granted exclusively to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (“IPT”) by s 65(2)(a) of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. Therefore the High Court had no jurisdiction to hear an application for judicial review brought by a former member of the Security Service in respect of a refusal of permission to publish a book about his work with the service.”

WLR Daily, 9th December 2009

Source; www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

Legislation to access public’s texts and emails put on hold – The Guardian

“Legislation for a £2bn Home Office surveillance project to track details of everybody’s email, mobile phone, text and internet use has been put on hold after a consultation raised concerns over its technical feasibility, costs and privacy safeguards.”

Full story

The Guardian, 9th November 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

New measures to strengthen the use of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act – Home Office

Posted November 5th, 2009 in investigatory powers, press releases by sally

“The level of authorisation required by local authorities to sign off investigatory techniques will be raised to prevent them being used for trivial matters.”

Full press release

Home Office, 4th November 2009

Source: www.homeoffice.gov.uk

Woman in ‘spy’ council tribunal – BBC News

Posted November 5th, 2009 in investigatory powers, news, school admissions by sally

“A woman who says she was spied on by her local authority to find out whether she lived in the catchment area of a school is starting a legal challenge.”

Full story

BBC News, 5th November 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Child support investigators get new spying powers – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 4th, 2009 in child support, investigatory powers, news by sally

“The agency responsible for tracing absent parents is to be given access to phone and email records for the first time, under Home Office rules.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 4th November 2009

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Alan Johnson announces plans to curb excessive council surveillance – The Times

Posted November 4th, 2009 in investigatory powers, local government, news by sally

“Councils are to have their powers to snoop on the public curbed under government plans aimed at addressing alarm at the expansion of the surveillance state.”

Full story

The Times, 4th November 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Arms protester on police spotter card was alleged infiltrator for BAE – The Guardian

Posted October 28th, 2009 in demonstrations, investigatory powers, news, police by sally

“The 2005 spotter card, published by the Guardian this week, contains a photograph of Martin Hogbin, who was national co-ordinator for the Campaign against the Arms Trade. He was later accused of supplying information to a company linked to BAE’s security department, but denied the allegation.”

Full story

The Guardian, 27th October 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Spy v spy at new supreme court as MI5 secrecy is put to the test – The Guardian

Posted October 20th, 2009 in freedom of expression, intelligence services, investigatory powers, news by sally

“It may not have the ring of a historic legal battle. But the case of A v B, which opened at the new supreme court today, has a significance that goes way beyond the banal soubriquets of the two sides.”

Full story

The Guardian, 20th October 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Big Brother culture attacked by country’s top barrister – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 8th, 2009 in barristers, closed circuit television, investigatory powers, news, privacy by sally

“The ‘Big Brother’ culture is on the march across Britain, allowing the state to snoop on phone calls, emails and even walking the dog, the country’s top barrister, Desmond Browne QC, has warned.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 8th October 2009

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

A request to snoop on public every 60 secs – Daily Telegraph

Posted August 10th, 2009 in investigatory powers, news, statistics by sally

“Councils, police and other public bodies are seeking access to people’s private telephone and email records almost 1,400 times a day, new figures have disclosed.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 9th August 2009

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Why must a secret service fair hearing be heard in secret? – The Times

“Former MI5 officers guard many secrets. But, as Dame Stella Rimington well knows, they can tell their own stories. A former agent has to seek prior approval for publication from his or her former employers and, if it is not given, any dispute will ultimately be adjudicated by a High Court Judge with all the usual safeguards to ensure a fair trial. Or so it was thought until the Court of Appeal gave judgment in A v B.”

Full story

The Times, 11th June 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Council uses terror law to spy on shirker in shower – The Times

Posted May 26th, 2009 in investigatory powers, local government, news by sally

“A local council has used surveillance powers designed to catch terrorists and prevent serious crime to check how long a member of staff spent in the shower.”

Full story

The Times, 24th May 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Giant database plan to be set out – BBC News

Posted April 27th, 2009 in investigatory powers, news, privacy by sally

“Plans to track all e-mails sent, all phone calls made and all internet pages visited in the UK are to be unveiled by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith.”

Full story

BBC News, 27th April 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ex-defence chief says attack on liberties is bowing to terrorists – The Guardian

Posted April 24th, 2009 in human rights, investigatory powers, news, privacy by sally

“A former chief of the defence staff has warned that the ‘creeping irreversible curtailment’ of civil liberties in the name of national security is ‘playing the game by terrorists’ rules’.

Full story

The Guardian, 24th April 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

The anti-terror law used on litterbugs – BBC News

Posted April 20th, 2009 in investigatory powers, litter, news by sally

“Home Secretary Jacqui Smith is to clamp down on local councils who use anti-terror laws to catch litterbugs and other minor offenders.”

Full story

BBC News, 17th April 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk