Police Searches

In 1981, Liberty offices move to their current home, 21 Tabard Street. In the same year, following a Liberty campaign, the ‘sus’ laws, which allowed police to stop and search on the grounds of suspicion alone, are repealed.

Gay Rights and Censorship

Liberty acted for the owners of ‘Gay’s the Word’ bookshop, whose stock was confiscated by Customs officers in 1984. All charges are dropped and the stock is returned.

Miners' Strike

During the miners’ strike, Liberty strongly upheld the right to strike and campaigned on behalf of miners stopped from picketing outside their home regions.

MI5 Surveillance

The European Court of Human Rights rules that MI5 surveillance of Harriet Harman and Patricia Hewitt during the pair’s tenure at Liberty breached the European Convention.

Detention Without Charge

During the Gulf War, Liberty successfully campaigned for the release of over 100 Iraqi nationals – some of whom were openly opposed to Saddam Hussein – detained without charge in Britain on the grounds that they posed a risk to national security.

Miscarriage of Justice

Throughout the 1990s Liberty focused again on miscarriage of justice cases and campaigned for reform of the criminal justice system. High profile cases included that of the Birmingham Six, who were released after 16 years in prison for IRA bombings they didn’t commit.

Human Rights Act

In 1998 Liberty’s long campaign to bring the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law finally succeeds with the passing of the Human Rights Act.