Details about the incidents revealed by Justice Minister Jack Straw today indicate that:
● intrusive surveillance was used and would have been authorized under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000
● the police (rather than the Home Office) as general practice seek authorizations in prisons
● the Wilson Doctrine applies to telephone taps and not bugging devices due to the complicated, piecemeal nature of privacy laws
● the strength of safeguards to protect lawyer/client consultations remains questionable
Liberty Director Shami Chakrabarti said:
"Mr Straw’s rapid reaction is welcome as is Sir Christopher’s decision to report within two weeks. Whatever actually happens in this case – it's high time for simpler and stronger surveillance laws with warrants issued by judges, not policeman nor politicians."
“The Wilson doctrine has given false comfort to generations of MPs, as it seems that it applies only to telephone communications while they had understandably assumed it protected all confidential communications.”
Contact: Jen Corlew on 0207 378 3656 or 0797 3 831 128
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Targeted Surveillance Guide
