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 […]
Torture is no small claim: JUSTICE responds to wide publicity for PM’s Strasbourg speech
January 25, 2012
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 […]
JUSTICE reacts to Othman v UK (Abu Qatada)
January 17, 2012
Secret evidence in civil proceedings unnecessary, unfair and unjustified: JUSTICE responds to Government consultation on Justice and Security Green Paper
January 11, 2012
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. The Government should think […]
UK proposals for reform of the European Court of Human Rights would fundamentally undermine the protection of human rights in Europe
January 10, 2012
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 […]
JUSTICE calls on the Prime Minister to show “moral leadership” on torture inquiry
January 7, 2012
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. […]
Scotland Bill
January 1, 2012
View the latest information on this bill on Parliament’s website. The bill was presented to Parliament on 30 November 2010. The Bill will implement recommendations of the Final Report of the Commission on Scottish Devolution (the Calman Commission). It would make a number of adjustments to the boundary of devolved responsibilities. JUSTICE welcomes the amendments to the Scotland […]
JUSTICE responds to Strasbourg judgement on hearsay evidence
December 15, 2011
Strasbourg Court ruling on Hearsay
The European Court of Human Rights today clarified a long standing debate between the UK Supreme Court and Strasbourg on when hearsay evidence should be admitted. In the case of Horncastle the UKSC had declined to follow the Strasbourg Court’s requirement that in order to rely on hearsay it could not be the sole and […]