Comments for Atu XVIII - UK Politics and Civil Liberties

Comment on Damian Green: Smith Refuses to Apologise by trevor

trevor — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 22:37:13 +0000

Yes, governments have always tried to get revenge on leaking civil servants but arresting an MP over a matter such as this is, I believe, a new thing. As to the officers involved, I disagree. Sir Paul Stephenson said:
“In 2006 the Special Branch amalgamated with the Anti-Terrorist Branch to become the Counter Terrorism Command. Investigations of this nature, which previously were always carried out by Special Branch are now within the CTC remit even though they are not related to terrorism” (source).
An example of anti-terror measures seeping into civil life under New Labour.

My argument is that New Labour have created an atmosphere in which the police consider this arrest acceptable. The government didn’t order it but they’ve created the conditions for it to happen - whatever the party of the MP concerned.

The police in the ’70s and ’80s were hardly champions of liberty, however I believe even they would have baulked at the idea of using an obscure common law offence as an excuse to search without a warrant the Westminster offices of an MP. The constant erosion of civil liberties has brought us to a position where this sort of thing takes place.

And yes, the Tories are making the most of it. However the anger amongst MPs does seem pretty cross party.

Comment on Damian Green: Smith Refuses to Apologise by Dave

Dave — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 19:22:56 +0000

This arrest was under a law that existed before New Labour came to power, by the same organisation that has always been used when investigating members of parliament (The Flying Squad, now incorporated in SOCA). It was not ordered (and could not be ordered) by government. The same police force has, in recent years, made similar arrests of New Labour officials (though not, AFAIK, members of parliament). Civil servants were charged and imprisoned for revealing secrets before New Labour came to power.

So how do you deduce that this is all a result of “What’s happening to the UK under New Labour”?

I am not trying to defend New Labour on ID cards, on detention without trial, etc. I do think that a ex-PR man who is now leader of the opposition is making great play of something that also happened when his party was last in power and would happen if he were in power now.

Comment on Mosquito Madness by Sondra

Sondra — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:11:52 +0000

Are shop fronts there private property or do they extend onto public property? Here shop fronts are typically private property, but I know we’ve a lot more space here than in many huge cities.

I see no reason why a shop owner should be restricted from using one of these as long as it only covers his property. Groups of teenagers congregating in front of a shop can cost the owner a lot of business. In my city, there is one particular shopping center where teenagers hang out. So many “cruise” around the parking lot (which is private property) that I won’t go there at night on the weekends for fear of hitting one of them or their cars.

In instances where shop fronts are right on a public walkway, I agree that it’s an entirely different story.

Comment on Mosquito Madness by trevor

trevor — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 17:47:56 +0000

I’ve no problem with devices like this being used on private property to which there is no legitimate access - for example schools after hours. However if they’re installed in a public or semi-public place (which includes shop fronts) then they should only ever be activated manually in response to an specific problem.

As with CCTV I don’t want these banned outright, just tightly regulated.

Comment on Mosquito Madness by Sondra

Sondra — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 17:15:11 +0000

Do you think these things should never be used even on private property - either homes and businesses? Would it be acceptable to use them if people knew they were there via some sort of warning sign?

Comment on Mosquito Madness by trevor

trevor — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 17:00:00 +0000

According to the maker, Compound Security the range is about 15-20 metres. The idea is to deter youngsters from areas like shop fronts, underpasses, walls, etc. Most are used by private business. Some local councils use them, others (including Edinburgh) have banned them from council property.

The manufacturers make a big thing about the fact that they should be used responsibly - they won’t sell to just anyone and stress that the Mosquito should only be used when there’s actually a problem. However that claim is rather undermined by the fact that the device can also be set up to switch on when triggered by a motion detector. For example when a totally innocent person is sheltering from the rain.

Comment on Mosquito Madness by Sondra

Sondra — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:13:28 +0000

I’ve never heard of anything like this. Are these used on public property or private property? Is the range relatively short or does it bleed over onto other people’s property?

Comment on Stalinist Britain - New Labour’s Legacy by Alan

Alan — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 13:53:47 +0000

This blog is probably “bad content”, as described here: http://gnuru.org/article/1400/uk-government-ban-content-it-doesn-t-like

Comment on Scottish Pubs Will Make Customers Take Drug Tests by trevor

trevor — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 16:15:03 +0000

“Unfortunately, Aberdeen is very apathetic. God forbid anyone should stand up to authority.”

I wonder if that’s why the city was chosen? Get the scheme established there with minimal resistance then claim it’s been successful and nobody has objected so it can be imposed on the rest of the country.

Comment on Scottish Pubs Will Make Customers Take Drug Tests by Korgan Rivera

Korgan Rivera — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 13:35:36 +0000

I couldn’t agree more.
I figure the thing to do is engineer false readings en masse. Pubs will lose money and as if by magic, this Big Brother Bullshit will fade out fast.
Unfortunately, Aberdeen is very apathetic. God forbid anyone should stand up to authority.