Ensuring an effective defence The European arrest warrant (EAW) came into force in 2004. It brought in radical change to the extradition process across the European Union. This has led to vast numbers of speedy hearings and surrenders. The EAW was originally promoted as a weapon in the fight against serious cross border crime, but […]
Draft Communications Data Bill
August 1, 2012
Surveillance is a necessary activity in the fight against serious crime. When targeted, it can play a vital part in our national security. Unnecessary and excessive surveillance, however, destroys our privacy and blights our liberty. The Draft Bill builds on the existing – and inadequate – regulatory provisions in Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 […]
Justice and Security Bill: JUSTICE Director of Human Rights highlights cross-party Lords challenge
July 13, 2012
As the Justice and Security Bill progresses through the House of Lords stages, our Human Rights Director highlights significant challenge from Peers from all three main political parties in the UK Human Rights Blog. JUSTICE remains unpersuaded of the Government’s case to expand the use of Closed Material Proceedings into ordinary civil proceedings. Read today’s […]
HH and PH v Deputy Prosecutor of Italian Republic, Genoa; FK v Polish Judicial Authority
June 20, 2012
The case was heard by the UK Supreme Court on 5th to 8th March 2012, together with another case from Scotland BH and KAS v The Lord Advocate. Judgment was given to both cases on 20th June 2012. This case concerned extradition and the rights of children: whether extradition would be incompatible with the rights of the […]
Immigration and Human Rights
June 19, 2012
Following the Home Secretary’s Statement last week on immigration, family migration and the right to family life, the House of Commons will today be encouraged to vote on a Government motion on human rights and immigration. The motion urges MPs to express their support for Immigration Rules published less than 5 working days ago. JUSTICE […]
Lords should dismiss Government request for unfair, unnecessary and unjustified exemption from open, adversarial justice
Justice and Security Bill: JUSTICE calls on Lords to speak up for open adversarial justice.
As the House of Lords meets to debate the Justice and Security Bill Second Reading, JUSTICE highlights its serious concerns about the impact of the Bill’s proposals on open, adversarial and equal justice. The Government is asking for an effective opt-out from our most basic principles of due process. The Supreme Court refused to extend […]
Defamation Bill
June 8, 2012
The Defamation Bill introduces a statutory definition of defamation and a new minimum threshold of “serious harm” for libel claims. JUSTICE welcomes the Bill as an important step in reforming the law of libel to enhance protection for freedom of expression. JUSTICE Briefing – House of Commons Second Reading – June 2012 Links
Punishment and Reform: Effective Community Sentences
June 1, 2012
On 27 March 2012, the Ministry of Justice published a consultation on community sentencing entitled Punishment and Reform: Effective Community Sentences (Cm 8334). The consultation seeks views on a set of proposed reforms to the way sentences served in the community operate in England and Wales. Whilst the consultation looks at how restorative justice can […]