News

February 2012

JUSTICE welcomes inspector's call for reform of undercover policing

JUSTICE welcomes the recommendation of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, Sir Denis O'Connor that the use of undercover surveillance must be subject to prior oversight.

In our November 2011 report, Freedom from suspicion: surveillance reform for a digital age, we called for the use of covert human intelligence sources to be subject to judicial control, to better protect our right to privacy and the right to a fair trial for those subject to surveillance.

January 2012

Torture is no small claim: JUSTICE responds to wide publicity for PM’s Strasbourg speech.

A strong European Court of Human Rights is essential and the Strasbourg Court has played a major role in advancing civil liberties and human rights at home and in Europe. The real burden on the Court is the failure of some countries to take their obligations under the Convention seriously by protecting rights effectively at home.

JUSTICE reacts to Othman v UK (Abu Qatada)

JUSTICE welcomes judgment of the European Court of Human Rights that return to face trial on the basis of torture evidence would be unlawful and expresses regret on the conflicting judgment of the Court on the Memorandum of Understanding between Jordan and the UK.

Read JUSTICE's Secret evidence in civil proceedings unnecessary, unfair and unjustified: JUSTICE responds to Government consultation on Justice and Security Green Paper

JUSTICE has published its response to the Government’s Green Paper on Justice and Security. We strongly criticise Government’s principal proposals– which would give the Government the discretion to trigger the use of secret evidence in any civil proceedings – as an unnecessary, unfair and unjustified interference with the principle of open justice.

UK proposals for reform of the European Court of Human Rights would fundamentally undermine the protection of human rights in Europe

JUSTICE – as part of a coalition of major UK and international civil society organisations – today publishes its detailed analysis of current proposals for the reform of the European Court of Human Rights. New proposals by the UK and Swiss Governments would unacceptably restrict the right of individual petition and would undermine the invaluable role played by the Court.

JUSTICE calls on the Prime Minister to show "moral leadership" on torture inquiry

Abdel Hakim Belhaj, now head of the Tripoli Military Council, today announced his decision not to appear before the Government’s Detainee Inquiry, led by Sir Peter Gibson. In proceedings against the Government, Mr Belhadj claims that, following intervention by UK security and intelligence agencies, he was held and tortured in Tripoli under the Gaddafi regime.

December 2011

JUSTICE responds to Strasbourg judgement on hearsay evidence

Al-Khawaja and Tahery v UK was heard on appeal from the Fourth Section of the Strasbourg court to the Grand Chamber.

JUSTICE was granted permission to intervene as a third party in the case.

JUSTICE responds to Bill of Rights Commission consultation

JUSTICE has published its response to the Commission on a Bill of Rights Discussion Paper: Do we need a UK Bill of Rights?

JUSTICE responds to Application of EU Criminal Justice Legislation in the field of Detention Green Paper

The EU Commission has been consulting on length and conditions of detention in the EU and whether there is need for the EU to legislate in this area. The green paper forms Measure F on the Roadmap on procedural safeguards in criminal proceedings.