Tag Archives: criminal records bureau

Tom Brake MP writes… A landmark achievement in fight for our civil liberties

By Tom Brake | Tue 1st May 2012 - 4:13 pm

Today the Protection of Freedoms Bill became an Act: a landmark for the campaign to roll back Labour’s surveillance state. Liberal Democrats have long campaigned for this piece of legislation, proposing a “Freedom Bill” more than five years ago when Nick Clegg was the party’s Home Affairs Spokesman.

The Act will protect millions of people from unwarranted state intrusion in their private lives, building on some of the things we’ve already achieved like the ending of ID cards and the destruction of the National Identity Register.

I just want to highlight a couple of things that will now happen. …

Posted in Op-eds | Also tagged brian paddick, freedom of information act, id cards, national dna database, national identity register, nick clegg, Protection of Freedoms Bill 2010-11, ripa, surveillance camera commissioner and vetting and barring scheme | 12 Comments

Tom Brake writes: The Freedom Bill is a staging post towards an even freer society

By Tom Brake | Sun 13th February 2011 - 11:17 am

The Freedom Bill is clear evidence of the Liberal Democrats setting the political agenda and making a positive difference to how we live in Britain.

It’s our robust answer to unwelcome and unwarranted intrusions into our everyday lives. It starts the dismantling of an overbearing surveillance state and restores British civil liberties that we used to be able to take for granted.

At the heart of the Bill is a commitment to safeguarding and protecting individuals and national security. What has felt to many like an obsession of the state to monitor our every waking moment is broken down by the …

Posted in Op-eds | Also tagged anti-social behaviour act, cctv, freedom bill, freedom of information, independent safeguarding authority, national dna database, Protection of Freedoms Bill 2010-11, public order act, Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act, rehabilitation of offenders act and ripa | 17 Comments

Convictions for historic gay sex offences to be erased

By Helen Duffett | Sun 26th December 2010 - 8:55 am

Convictions for historic gay sex offences will be erased as part of the Freedom Bill, the Sunday Telegraph reports:

Lynne Featherstone, the Liberal Democrat equalities minister, will announce firm proposals for new legislation within days, The Sunday Telegraph has learned.

The move will benefit thousands of men who were prosecuted for gay sex with someone over 16 during decades when the practice was against the law.

Currently, they must disclose the information as part of the programme of Criminal Records Bureau checks if they apply to work or volunteer for charities and other organisations.

Getting such a conviction expunged currently

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Posted in News | Also tagged freedom bill, lynne featherstone and sexual offences | 13 Comments