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Thursday 29th October 2009
Independent – Four out of five of us believe freedoms are being eroded in Britain
…Britain is a country rightly known around the world as a cradle of liberty and freedom. But most people now feel that our freedoms are being eroded.
This is hardly surprising, given the recent discovery that the police have a series of databases recording the personal details of thousands of people who attend protests or rallies. The databases are searchable by a number of officers and come complete with colour photographs assembled and printed onto “spotter cards” which are then distributed to enable agencies to monitor attendees at events.
Polling conducted by Big Brother Watch and PoliticsHome this week suggests that the British public is strongly opposed to big brother creep…
Daily Mail – Councils given ‘Al Capone’ powers to seize public’s assets
Dylan Sharpe, Campaign Director of Big Brother Watch, said: ‘There is no doubt that in very serious cases, the ability to seize assets and freeze bank accounts is an invaluable tool.
‘But when local authorities are given access to these heavily intrusive and far-reaching powers, they invariably end up using them for the wrong reasons.
‘When we are talking about giving local authorities the ability to search through private belongings and bank accounts, these measures really ought to receive the full-scrutiny afforded by Parliament.’
Police State – Big Brother Watch
…A new civil liberties watchdog site has been launched, with many of the same aims as Police State UK. Big Brother Watch has just announced its launch in The Guardian’s Comment is Free, suggesting that an increasing number of people are becoming concerned about privacy, surveillance and the curtailment of personal liberties in the UK…
Kable.co.uk – Public Mistrusts Government on Data
…The survey served to launch Big Brother Watch, a campaign run by the right wing Taxpayers Alliance campaign group to highlight “the erosion of civil liberties in the UK”.
The research also found that 45% strongly agreed that their freedoms “are being eroded by a Big Brother state”, with 34% agreeing somewhat…
Australian Conservative – UK’s libel laws are killing investigative journalism
…From Big Brother Watch: Willard Foxton has been a journalist for 6 years. He has published stories in papers around the world, and has covered everything from quaint welsh literary festivals to the Israel-Lebanon war…
Wednesday 28th October 2009
Guardian Comment is Free – Big Brother, we’re watching you
Our research shows that four out of five Britons believe their freedoms are disappearing. Left and right must fight this together
We advocate the return of our liberties and freedoms and we look for others to join our cause. The government’s movement towards ending the ID card scheme and the Conservatives’ report are encouraging; however the nature of big brother legislation is that it removes personal freedoms without the individual ever being aware they were being taken.
Big Brother Watch is here to make sure you know.
BBC Radio 5Live – Alex Deane interviewed by Richard Bacon
LBC 97.3FM – Dylan Sharpe interviewed by Petrie Hosken on ‘The Whole Show’
Human Events.com – Surveillance Nation
…I’ve written previously on Human Events about the state of Big Brother Britain, and things are only getting worse.
Now, it seems that the U.S. is thinking about following our example. The people of the good city of Atlanta are currently debating the installation of an additional 500 — yes, 500 — CCTV cameras…
Daily Telegraph – More than one in 10 people on DNA database for first time
..A separate poll for campaign group Big Brother Watch found 79 per cent of the public believe freedoms are being eroded by a Big Brother state while 86 per cent said the Government cannot be trusted to keep personal data safe.
Alex Deane, director of Big Brother Watch, said: “We are the victims of ever more intrusive policies, pushing more and more into the details of our lives.
“The Government doesn’t seem to care that Big Brother Britain has been rejected by the vast majority of people who live here…
Metro – Most don’t trust Government on data
…Nearly nine out of 10 people do not trust the Government to hold on to their personal information, a survey has revealed.
A study by campaign group Big Brother Watch found 86% of those polled said they feared for the safety of private data in the Government’s hands.
Trust levels are plummeting, as a similar study seven years ago found just over half of people lacking trust in Government…
Daily Express – Most don’t trust Government on data
Daily Mail – Britain passes Big Brother landmark: More than one in 10 people now on DNA database
Colourful Radio - Alex Deane interviewed by Henry Bonsu on the Breakfast Show
City Talk 103.5FM – Alex Deane interviewed by Roy Basnett on the Legal Surgery show
ITN – 86% fear for personal data held by Government
Channel 4 – Most don’t trust Government on data
in the news.co.uk – Big Brother Britain Opposed by Public
Adfero – Big Brother Britain opposed by public
Ananova – Most don’t trust Government on data
Politics.co.uk – Public lash out at ‘Big Brother Britain’
Teletext.co.uk – Most don’t trust Government on data
Computing – Big Brother Britain opposed by public
ZDNet UK – Public mistrust grows over gov’t data policy
Birmingham Mail – Most don’t trust Government on data
Liverpool Daily Post – Most don’t trust Government on data
24dash.com – ‘Nearly 9 out of 10′ fear for safety of personal data held by Government
icScotland.co.uk – Most don’t trust Government on data
The Herald – Majority of Britons believe the Government cannot be trusted with personal data
AOL News – Most don’t trust Government on data
Hounslow Chronicle – Most don’t trust Government on data
Uxbridge Gazette – Most don’t trust Government on data
Nuneaton News – Most don’t trust Government on data
Southport Visitor - Most don’t trust Government on data
Wales Online.co.uk – Most don’t trust Government on data
Blackpool Gazette – Most don’t trust Government on data
Coventry Telegraph – Most don’t trust Government on data
icWalsall.co.uk – Most don’t trust Government on data
Rye and Battle Observer – Most don’t trust Government on data
Ilkeston Advertiser – Most don’t trust Government on data
Virgin Media News – Most don’t trust Government on data
Tuesday 27th October 2009
Daily Telegraph – Half the population must have ID card to pay for scheme, claim Tories
..Alex Deane, director of campaign group Big Brother Watch, said: “If these figures are correct, the average cost to the taxpayer will actually have to be higher than £30, given that the cards are currently being given out to immigrants at customs for free, as part of the latest Government attempt to introduce ID cards by stealth…”
Press and Journal – Government ‘deluded’ over cost of ID cards scheme
…Alex Deane, director of campaign group Big Brother Watch, said: “This just shows that ID cards and more importantly the database behind them aren’t just intrusive and bullying. They’re also absurdly expensive…”
Monday 26th October 2009
The Investigator – Police can keep old files for 100 years
Barrister Alex Deane, director of privacy pressure group Big Brother Watch, said: “This is crazy.
“We have a Rehabilitation of Offenders Act in this country, which tries to do exactly what it says on the tin, rehabilitate people into society.”
24dash.com – 28 million ID cards needed to cover scheme costs
…Alex Deane, director of campaign group Big Brother Watch, said: “This just shows that ID cards and more importantly the database behind them aren’t just intrusive and bullying. They’re also absurdly expensive..”
Thursday 22nd October 2009
Daily Mail – Teacher ‘bullied’ by council for leaving bag of waste paper next to full recycling bin
..Dylan Sharpe, from Big Brother Watch, said: “This sort of punitive, big brother threat is becoming increasingly common across Britain today. If you don’t do as the local authorities want you to, they throw around fines and reprimands until you fall in line.
“We all want a cleaner Britain, but this sort of harassment by Nottingham City Council must be condemned.”
Conservative Home - Keir Starmer, the Conservatives and the Human Rights Act
…regardless of the merits, Big Brother Watch thinks it wholly wrong for the Director to make political commentary, particularly about the qualities of the policies of a Party with which he might soon properly be expected to work to the best of his abilities…
Nottingham Evening Post – Support for teacher accused of fly-tipping
…Dylan Sharpe, campaign director of Big Brother Watch, said: “This sort of punitive, big brother threat is becoming increasingly common. If you don’t do as the local authorities want you to, they throw around fines and reprimands until you fall in line. We all want a cleaner Britain, but this sort of harassment by Nottingham Council must be condemned..”
Wednesday 21st October 2009
Daily Telegraph – Teacher threatened with prosecution for leaving bag of paper by bin
…Dylan Sharpe, from Big Brother Watch, said: “This sort of punitive, big brother threat is becoming increasingly common across Britain today. If you don’t do as the local authorities want you to, they throw around fines and reprimands until you fall in line.
“We all want a cleaner Britain, but this sort of harassment by Nottingham City Council must be condemned…”
Daily Mail – State spying to cost £200million each year to track your every click online
…Yesterday Alex Deane, director of campaign group Big Brother Watch, said: ‘The Government is preparing to make British people pay through the nose so that they can track our movements online…’
Tuesday 20th October 2009
talkSPORT 1089/1053 AM - Alex Deane interviewed by Ian Collins on the Late Show
Metro – Quarter of all workers have criminal records
…But barrister Alex Deane, of privacy pressure group Big Brother Watch, said: ‘The benefit to the police of retaining the data is minimal. The cost to the individuals can be huge – and often potentially life-ruining…’
Yorkshire Post – Conviction details of 1m to stay on police database
…Alex Deane, director of Big Brother Watch, which campaigns against intrusions on the privacy and liberties of ordinary Britons, described the court’s decision as “crazy”.
“The benefit to the police of retaining the samples is minimal,” he said. “The cost to the individuals, as the stories demonstrate, can be huge and often potentially life-ruining…”
Staffordshire Sentinel – Police can keep old files for 100 years
…Barrister Alex Deane, director of privacy pressure group Big Brother Watch, said: “This is crazy.
“We have a Rehabilitation of Offenders Act in this country, which tries to do exactly what it says on the tin, rehabilitate people into society.
“However, the police are effectively stymieing this by retaining age-old, spent convictions, which then go on to show up when people apply for jobs a generation later…
Northern Echo – Northumbria Police among forces allowed to keep records of old minor convictions
…Alex Deane, director of privacy pressure group Big Brother Watch, branded the judgement “crazy”, while Anna Fairclough, a lawyer for the civil rights group Liberty, said it “forgets the privacy rights of millions”…
Times – Appeal Court upholds police right to retain minor conviction details
…Alex Deane, director of privacy pressure group Big Brother Watch, said: “We have a Rehabilitation of Offenders Act in this country, which tries to do exactly what it says on the tin — rehabilitate people back into society. However, the police are effectively stymieing this by retaining fingerprints from age-old, spent convictions, which then go on to show up when people apply for jobs a generation later…
The Investigator – Met wants mobiles that do iris scans
Alex Deane, director of Big Brother Watch, said: “This [is] another example of the police looking for ever more expensive and intrusive technologies which, more often than not, detract rather than aid conventional policing.
Monday 19th October 2009
LBC 97.3FM – Alex interviewed by Petrie Hosken on ‘The Whole Show’
LocalGov.co.uk – Met technology ‘detracts’ from conventional policing
…The Metropolitan Police’s decision to purchase hand-held units through which officers can capture facial, iris and fingerprint biometrics on the capital’s streets has been criticised by anti-surveillance lobbyists.
Alex Deane, director of Big Brother Watch, said the use of the machines would ‘detract rather than aid conventional policing’…
Politics.co.uk – ‘No limit’ on police database
…Alex Deane, director of Big Brother Watch, said: “This is crazy. We have a Rehabilitation of Offenders Act in this country, which tries to do exactly what it says on the tin – rehabilitate people back into society.
“However, the police are effectively stymieing this by retaining fingerprints from age-old, spent convictions, which then go on to show up when people apply for jobs a generation later…”
Daily Mail – One million ‘minor’ convictions will stay on police files after forces win appeal court ruling
…Alex Deane, director of pressure group Big Brother Watch, said of the judgment: ‘This is crazy. We have a Rehabilitation of Offenders Act in this country, which tries to do exactly what it says on the tin – rehabilitate people back into society.
‘However, the police are effectively stymieing this by retaining fingerprints from age-old, spent convictions, which then go on to show up when people apply for jobs a generation later.
‘The benefit to the police of retaining the samples is minimal. The cost to the individuals can be huge – and often potentially life-ruining..’
Public Service.co.uk – Met wants mobiles that do iris scans
…Alex Deane, director of Big Brother Watch, said: “This [is] another example of the police looking for ever more expensive and intrusive technologies which, more often than not, detract rather than aid conventional policing.
“These new scanners need to prove their worth; otherwise they will end up being just another tool of surveillance that intrudes even more into the lives of innocent people…”
Eursoc – Pocket sized Big Brother
…Alex Deane, Director of civil liberties campaign Big Brother Watch, said
“This another example of the police looking for ever more expensive and intrusive technologies which, more often than not, detract rather than aid conventional policing.
“The Metropolitan Police themselves have admitted that only one crime is solved for every 1000 CCTV cameras in London, yet they continue to place cameras along our streets and pathways…”
Friday 16th October 2009
Guardian.co.uk – On our radar
…The civil liberties and human rights articles we’re reading today: Minister refuses to give timetable for removal of the innocent from the DNA database [Big Brother Watch]…
Thursday 15th October
2009
Alex Deane speaks at Cambridge Union debate: ‘This House Believes that Political Correctness is Sane and Necessary’
Wednesday 14th October 2009
BBC Radio London 94.9FM – Alex Deane interviewed for Eddie Nestor’s Drivetime Show
Tuesday 13th October 2009
Conservative Home – Gagging reports of Parliamentary proceedings
…Well, apparently it hasn’t stopped after all. It is appalling that the fight needs to be had again, but it certainly needs to be had. We at Big Brother Watch find ourselves (grits teeth, breathes deeply, squares shoulders) firmly on the side of the Guardian…
Monday 12th October 2009
Scottish Sun – Big Brother is watching you…300 times a day
…SCOTLAND has become a ‘Big Brother’ state with record numbers of spy cams watching our every move up to 300 times a day. critics say the cash would be better off spent paying for more cops.
Alex Deane, director of Big Brother Watch, said: “For CCTV cameras to be worth paying for, they either have to help to prevent or help to detect crime.
“Money like this would be better off spent putting more bobbies on the beat, rather than increasing the reach of the Big Brother state…”
Thursday 8th October 2009
Colourful Radio – Alex Deane interviewed by Bonsu and Juju for the Breakfast show
Tuesday 6th October 2009
Order-Order.com – Lord Falconer at Tory Party Conference
…Big Brother Watch’s Alex Deane spotted Lord Falconer outside the Tory Conference. With Cameroons openly speculating about welcoming some Blairites into their big tent, one wonders what he is doing in town…
Saturday 3rd October 2009
Press and Journal – Broch’s new CCTV comes under fire
…A north-east town’s new CCTV network has been criticised by a national pressure group, just days after the cameras were installed. Campaign group Big Brother Watch, which was launched in London last month, has condemned the long-awaited security scheme at Fraserburgh…
Friday 2nd October 2009
Conservative Home – Wrongful convictions based on DNA evidence – a pervasive and persistent issue
…It’s a Big Brother Watch issue, I suppose. Technology has its place in law enforcement, of course. But along with being mindful of the imperative to find and convict the guilty, the perils of wrongful conviction as a result of tools we trust too much seem to have been forgotten…
Thursday 1st October 2009
Corriere della Sera – Nottingham prima città inglese alcol free
…Unica (almeno per ora) voce fuori dal coro è quella di Dylan Sharpe di “Big Brother Watch”, organizzazione che combatte le ingiustizie e difende le libertà civili, che giudica la mossa di Nottingham…
BBC Radio Bristol – Alex Deane interviewed by Graham Torrington (of Late Night Love)
Daily Mail – Ban on drinking in the street: Entire towns and cities to become public alcohol-free zones
…However, there are concerns that some councils may be too heavy-handed in the way they introduce new byelaws, possibly putting an end to picnics in the park. Dylan Sharpe of Big Brother Watch said: ‘This is yet another piece of legislation with the potential to create criminals out of law-abiding people…’
Daily Telegraph – New power could mean blanket bans on drinking in public
…Dylan Sharpe, from the campaign group Big Brother Watch, added: “This move smacks of a local authority lazily choosing to blanket ban something that many decent people innocently enjoy, rather than leave the initiative with police officers to judge on a case-by-case basis. This is yet another piece of legislation with the potential to create criminals out of law abiding people…”
