A “Cardinal Democratic Freedom”: High Court rules police’s action “Orwellian” in a victory for freedom of expression – Monckton Chambers

‘On 14 February 2020, the High Court (Mr Justice Julian Knowles) held that Humberside Police had disproportionately interfered with the rights of free speech of the Claimant, Harry Miller, under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights (“ECHR”).’

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Monckton Chambers, 21st February 2020

Source: www.monckton.com

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

Let’s face it: use of automated facial recognition technology by the police – UK Police Law Blog

‘The case of R (Bridges) v Chief Constable of South Wales Police & Information Commissioner [2019] EWHC 2341 (Admin); [2020] 1 WLR 672 is said to have been the first claim brought before a court anywhere on planet earth concerning the use by police of automated facial recognition (“AFR”) technology. There could be nothing wrong with posting scores of police officers with eidetic memories to look out for up to a 800 wanted persons at public gatherings. So why not use a powerful computer, capable of matching 50 faces a second with a database of (under) 800 suspects, to do this job much more cheaply and instantaneously, flagging any matches to a human operator for final assessment? According to the Divisional Court in Bridges, this may, depending on the facts of each particular deployment, be lawful.’

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UK Police Law Blog, 21st February 2020

Source: ukpolicelawblog.com

UK venues could face legal duty to provide protection from terrorism – The Guardian

‘The owners and operators of businesses and public spaces such as concert halls, shopping centres and parks will be legally bound to protect such venues from terrorism under a new statutory duty proposed by the government.’

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The Guardian, 24th February 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Twitter, trans rights and the role of the police — an extended look – – UK Human Rights Blog

‘The case of R (Miller) v The College of Policing & The Chief Constable of Humberside [2020] EWHC 225 (Admin) is yet another decision arising out of an individual’s use of Twitter to share transphobic, or as they see it “gender critical”, views.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 21st February 2020

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Rules urgently needed to oversee police use of data and AI – report – The Guardian

‘National guidance is urgently needed to oversee the police’s use of data-driven technology amid concerns that it could lead to discrimination, a report has said.’

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The Guardian, 23rd February 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

EAT Applies Jhuti Principles to Uddin v London Borough of Ealing – Old Square Chambers

‘Do the principles set down by the Supreme Court decision in the landmark decision in Royal Mail Group Ltd v Jhuti (in which Simon Gorton QC and Jack Mitchell acted for the Royal Mail) apply to the assessment of whether an employer acted reasonably in dismissing an employee for the purposes of s.98(4) Employment Rights Act 1996?’

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Old Square Chambers, 17th February 2020

Source: www.oldsquare.co.uk

Of Tweeting and Transgender Rights – Panopticon Blog

‘Over the years, Panopticon has discussed a number of cases about the powers of the police to record, retain, and disseminate information about individuals. The judgment of Mr. Justice Julian Knowles in R (ota Harry Miller) v (1) The College of Policing, and (2) The Chief Constable of Humberside [2020] EWHC 225 (Admin) is a significant contribution to the law in this area. In Panopticon terms the case is unusual, in that the issues are discussed by reference to the right to freedom of expression under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights (“ECHR”), rather than by reference to Article 8 or data protection legislation.’

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Panopticon Blog, 17th February 2020

Source: panopticonblog.com

Met Police remove 374 names from gangs matrix – BBC News

Posted February 17th, 2020 in data protection, gangs, news, ombudsmen, police, statistics by sally

‘The Metropolitan Police has removed 374 people from its gangs matrix after the UK’s data watchdog found it breached data protection laws.’

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BBC News, 15th February 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Impact on rape victims of police phone seizures to be reviewed – The Guardian

‘The impact on rape victims of police seizures of their mobile phones is to be examined as the Metropolitan police begin piloting a data inspection system designed to limit invasion of privacy.’

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The Guardian, 16th February 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Police who warned man about ‘transphobic’ tweet acted unlawfully – The Guardian

Posted February 17th, 2020 in freedom of expression, hate crime, internet, news, police, transgender persons by sally

‘Police officers unlawfully interfered with a man’s right to freedom of expression by turning up at his place of work to speak to him about allegedly “transphobic” tweets, the high court has ruled.’

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The Guardian, 14th February 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Watchdog rejects Met’s claim that he supported facial recognition – The Guardian

Posted February 13th, 2020 in equality, facial mapping, London, news, police by sally

‘The official biometrics commissioner has rebuked the Metropolitan police after it falsely claimed that he supported its use of facial recognition CCTV in an equalities impact assessment published as the force made its first operational use of the controversial technology.’

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The Guardian, 12th February 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Family of UK man who died in police custody criticises watchdog – The Guardian

‘The family of a man who died in custody last month has criticised the police watchdog for failing to recommend the suspension of officers being investigated over the circumstances of his death.’

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The Guardian, 11th February 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Natalie Hemming murder: Authorities ‘missed opportunities’ – BBC News

Posted February 12th, 2020 in domestic violence, murder, news, police, social services by sally

‘Authorities “missed opportunities” to share information about a woman’s abusive partner before he murdered her, a review has found.’

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BBC News, 11th February 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Met police deploy live facial recognition technology – The Guardian

‘The Metropolitan police have been accused of defying the warnings of its own watchdogs by beginning operational use of facial recognition CCTV, despite a scathing assessment of its effectiveness from the expert hired to scrutinise its trials.’

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The Guardian, 11th February 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Jeremy Bamber lawyers say new evidence undermines conviction – The Guardian

Posted February 12th, 2020 in disclosure, documents, evidence, families, forensic science, murder, news, police, suicide by sally

‘Lawyers for Jeremy Bamber, who is serving a whole life sentence for murdering his family, have unearthed evidence that they say undermines the claim that it was “inconceivable” for his adoptive sister to have shot herself.’

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The Guardian, 11th February 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

How Plans To Triple The Police Bail Time Limit Could Affect Your Rights – Each Other

‘The length of time suspects could be bailed without being charged with a crime could be trebled under government plans.’

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Each Other, 7th February 2020

Source: eachother.org.uk

Grenfell Tower inquiry backs protection for refurbishment firms giving evidence – BBC News

‘The chairman of the Grenfell Tower inquiry has backed a request from firms that refurbished the building that evidence they give should not be used against them in criminal prosecutions.’

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BBC News, 7th February 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Crimes unreported as public lose faith in police – BBC News

‘Victims are no longer reporting some crimes to police because so many offenders are never brought to justice. A new report said the public are losing faith in the criminal justice system and have “rumbled” that police do not have the capacity to investigate.’

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BBC News, 7th February 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Chief Constable of Essex Police v Transport Arendonk BVBA (2020) – St Pauls Chambers

Posted February 6th, 2020 in chambers articles, duty of care, negligence, news, police, statutory duty by sally

‘A recorder had been correct not to strike out a negligence claim against a police force brought by the owner of cargo stolen from a lorry parked in a secluded lay-by at night while the driver was held at a police station on suspicion of drink driving. The possibility of a duty of care owed by the police was not precluded by statute, and there were no authorities that resolved the issue. The matter needed a full trial of the evidence.’

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St Pauls Chambers, 31st January 2020

Source: www.stpaulschambers.com