Liberty - Protecting civil liberties, promoting human rights
For Their Eyes Only
For Their Eyes Only
The Justice and Security Act will make drastic changes to our system of justice and fair trials.
The Act not only overturns centuries of common law fair trial protections for those seeking to challenge the actions of the State, but also undermines the vital constitutional principle that no one is above the law, including the Government.
Lib Dem resignations
Several brave and principled Liberal Democrat members have resigned in protest against the Justice & Security Bill, including Jo Shaw, Dinah Rose QC and Philippe Sands QC. Find out more.
Lawyers' petition
Over 700 of the country's leading lawyers - including 40 QCs - have
signed Liberty's petition condemning the Justice and Security Bill and Government plans to introduce Secret Courts into ordinary civil
law. Find out more.
Alongside the petition a group human rights organisations from across the world including Liberty, the American Civil Liberties Union and civil liberties organisations from Hungary, Egypt, Canada, Ireland, South Africa and Argentina issued a joint statement: “Every decent justice system is built upon openness, fairness and equality under the law. These are the principles which are missing from those states founded on dictatorship rather than democracy, fear rather than freedom.
"The past decade has seen terrors perpetrated against innocent citizens in freedom’s name; shameful treatment of individuals by powerful governments and their agents. We now look to a future where these dark practices are exposed and never repeated.
"The proposal for secret courts in the British Government’s Justice and Security Bill has huge ramifications for this pursuit of accountability and transparency. The contagion of secrecy not only creates more victims; with cover up comes public distrust in vital democratic institutions entrusted with safeguarding democracy, security and the rule of law itself. If the UK Parliament passes this proposal into law it will be a huge setback for those of us fighting to secure truth and fairness from our own governments and within our own justice systems across the world.”
Email your MP and let them know why these plans are dangerous and unnecessary.
The two key proposals in the Bill are:
- To introduce the controversial and highly flawed system of Closed Material Procedures and Special Advocates into the ordinary civil law. Secret evidence – never disclosed to the claimant, let alone public or press – would be relied on to defend serious allegations in cases where national security may be engaged. The only people allowed to be present would be the judge, the Government itself and the Government appointed Special Advocate.
- To put the Security Services – and potentially other
public bodies – above the law
in civil actions involving the wrongdoing of the UK Government and third
parties (Norwich Pharmacal Applications).
TAKE ACTION - EMAIL YOUR MP
You can write to your MP and remind them how unfair and unjust this Bill is.
Read Five reasons Liberty opposes the Government's Justice and Security Bill to help compose your email.
Why email my MP?
- Your MP is your representative in Parliament and it’s their job is to listen to your views.
- If you have concerns about something or want them to vote a certain way, you can ask them to do so.
- Emailing your MP will not only make them stop and think about an issue, it may even get them talking to other MPs about the issue and more inclined to represent your views.
Background
The Justice and Security Bill was announced in the wake of high-profile and embarrassing litigation
and media investigations which revealed the UK Government’s shameful
involvement in extraordinary
rendition, torture
and indefinite detention
without trial.
The Bill seeks to limit public scrutiny of the Government and our security services and public bodies and avoid further embarrassment by sweeping aside a centuries-old justice system in favour of one that is deeply flawed and unfair.
Designed to keep the press and public in the dark, these proposals will have serious implications for media freedom and the rights of potential victims and their families seeking answers and justice.
Find out more
- What kind of cases would this Bill help hide?
- Who else opposes this Bill?
Justice and Security Bill FAQs
- Read Liberty’s Committee stage briefing on Part 2 of the Justice & Security Bill in the House of Commons
- Donate to the For Their Eyes Only campaign. Text “FTEO12 £5” to 70070 to donate five pounds to the campaign fund.