The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has told the Criminal Division of the Court of Appeal in England and Wales, that a 14-year-old boy who was trafficked to the UK and forced into slave labour should not have been prosecuted.
...Beltrami & Company Criminal Law & Glasgow Solicitors Blog
For more information or advice on any of our posts please contact us on 0141 429 2262
Earlier this week, ahead of the Scottish Parliamentary debate on the Scottish Independence Referendum (Franchise) bill, human rights organisations called on MSPs to consider allowing certain prisoners to vote.
...A European Commission proposal to allow the use of EU air passenger name record (PNR) data in investigating serious crime and terrorist offences was rejected by Civil Liberties Committee MEPs last week, by 30 votes to 25.
...A recent report published by the Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) has criticised what it considers to be the Government’s failure to allow enough time to fully examine the human rights implications of some of its legislation.
...Scotland is taking vital steps towards tackling the problem of human trafficking, a new report by EHRC Scotland shows, with ‘a renewed impetus for action.’
...The Home Secretary, Theresa May, has tabled amendments to the Crime and Courts Bill that will change the law in relation to extradition in two ways, reports the Telegraph.
...The Court of Appeal in England this week ruled that the automatic disclosure of all convictions and cautions on CRB checks, regardless of their relevance to the job in question, is disproportionate – and therefore incompatible with the right to private life under article 8 of the Human Rights Act.
...New rules that will give EU law enforcement authorities the right to access the Eurodac database to check asylum seekers’ fingerprints took a step forward this week. MEPs voted to allow the access, but only if greater protection is given to personal data.
...The Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) has allowed Mohammed Othman’s (Abu Qatada) appeal against the Home Secretary’s decision to refuse to revoke the deportation order against him.
...Scotland’s Chief Statistician has published information on crimes of homicide as recorded by the police in Scotland in 2011-12.
...The Supreme Court has reaffirmed, in a unanimous decision, the importance of the ancient common law writ of habeas corpus, human rights organisation JUSTICE has announced.
...A new evidence based report examining the experiences and treatment of children and young people who died in prison custody in England and Wales has been published by INQUEST and the Prison Reform Trust.
...Gangs that lure victims to the UK and then exploit them for sex, labour and domestic slavery are being targeted following action by the government.
...The Home Secretary has announced that Gary McKinnon will not face extradition to the US.
...Human Rights organisation Liberty is seeking to intervene in the High Court in proceedings against the Government and Director for Public Prosecutions for not allowing Babar Ahmad (accused of setting up terrorist fundraising websites and detained for eight years without charge) to be prosecuted in the UK.
...The Scottish Human Rights Commission and the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission have urged the United Nations to scrutinise the UK Government’s intention to replace the Human Rights Act with a UK Bill of Rights.
The Commissions’ are giving evidence with the Equality and Human Rights Commission on the UK’s human rights record as part of the Universal Periodic Review process, where the UK is examined every four years by the Human Rights Council.
The joint submission also calls on the UK government to:
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has given its Chamber judgment in the case of James, Wells and Lee v. the United Kingdom.
...The public are being asked for their views on the operation of important border security powers in a consultation launched by the home office.
...The European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) has adopted his opinion on the amended Commission proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of 'EURODAC' for the comparison of the fingerprints of asylum seekers.
...The very existence of secret courts currently being legislated for by the Government may itself be a secret, human rights organisation Reprieve has claimed.
According to Reprieve, during debates in the Lords on the Justice and Security Bill, ministers confirmed that the fact the Government has applied for a Closed Material Procedure (CMP) – a process in which the public, press and the claimant is excluded from the court – could itself remain a secret.
CMPs would already allow the Government to present secret evidence to a judge without challenge from the other side in the case, in a process which is at odds with Britain's open and adversarial tradition of justice. This new development lays open the possibility that the very occurrence itself of a CMP would not be made public.
Reprieve's Executive Director, Clare Algar said: "This is a deeply disturbing development, reminiscent of super-injunctions in its excessive secrecy. Yet instead of merely covering up footballers' indiscretions, these courts could be used to sweep serious state human rights abuses – such as torture – under the carpet. If this Bill passes, it will badly damage centuries of British legal tradition and make it far harder for the citizen to hold the state to account."
Services Menu
Get Expert Advice
Request a Callback
