Liberty - Protecting civil liberties, promoting human rights

The Bill, which has its second reading in the House of Lords this afternoon, would allow the Government to defend itself in secret with victims, lawyers, the press and public locked out of court. The proposals would overturn centuries of fair trial protections for those challenging actions of the State and undermine the crucial constitutional principle that no-one is above the law – including the Government.

Liberty deployed bouncers outside the Supreme Court who prevented apparent members of the public and claimants from proceeding while allowing Government representatives, holding files of secret evidence, to enter freely.

Shami Chakrabarti, Director of Liberty, said: “The sight of sinister bouncers barring victims, press and public from a Court door may seem unthinkable, indefensible or both.

“But that is exactly what the Justice and Security Bill would achieve – undermining the reputation of Britain’s justice system and security establishment in the process.

“The Bill replaces judicial discretion with executive control and destroys the age-old principle that everyone is equal under the law.”

Contact: Liberty Press Office on 020 7378 3656 or 07973 831128

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. For photographs from Liberty’s For Their Eyes Only stunt today, please contact the Liberty Press Office;

2. For more information about For Their Eyes Only, Liberty’s campaign against the Justice and Security Bill, visit www.fortheireyesonly.co.uk;
3. Read Liberty’s response to the original Justice and Security Green Paper: http://www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk/pdfs/policy12/liberty-s-response-to-the-ministry-of-justice-consultati.pdf.