The sane counsel and calm logical resolve of all governments is eventually tested by events. Today the Home Office publishes its “Something Must be Done” consultation on public order powers in the wake of the summer of riotous discontent. The suggested reform of the dangerously broad speech offence of using “threatening, abusive or insulting” words or behaviour is of course a welcome ste...
read moreIt’s exactly three years today since the House of Lords defeated the previous Government’s controversial plans to extend pre-charge detention to 42 days for terror suspects. Ministers wanted to introduce the longest pre-charge detention period in the western world – not in times of genuine emergency but merely at moments of convenience. Thankfully the Upper House saw the scheme for ...
read moreToday is the 9th annual World Day Against the Death Penalty, when people across the globe join forces to raise awareness about the inhumanity of capital punishment. This year the focus is on how cruel, inhuman and degrading a punishment the death penalty is.Almost 50 years have passed since the death penalty was abolished for murder in Britain. In 1965 Labour MP Sydney Silverman introduced a pri...
read moreIt was standing room only in the Alexandria Suite at the Midland Hotel, Manchester on Monday night. Welcoming Conservative delegates to Liberty’s 2011 fringe, Shami reminded the audience how those on the panel had come together in recent years to resist some of the worst excesses of authoritarian Government. But, referring to the Home Secretary’s pre-conference strike against the Human Rights ...
read moreOur Human Rights Act has been variously blamed for terrorism, rioting and almost every ill bar global warming. Now the oddities of privatised public services are added to the list. GEOAmey has a contract to provide custodial services, transporting suspects from the police station to the magistrates’ court and then remand prisoners from the magistrates’ court to prison. But something went wron...
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