torchbearer
02-28-2009, 11:38 AM
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7915479.stm
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45520000/jpg/_45520086_cctvparliament226cr_ap.jpg
The "database state", counter-terrorism laws and press freedom are among issues being discussed by campaigners at the Convention on Modern Liberty.
Organisers say hundreds of people are expected to attend the main event in London and gatherings across the UK.
One speaker, human rights lawyer Helena Kennedy QC, said terrorism "was being used to take away a lot of rights".
Tory David Davis, Lib Dem Vince Cable and ex-minister Lord Goldsmith are also among those scheduled to speak.
Gatherings will also be held in Belfast, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Glasgow and Manchester - organisers say they expect 1,000 people to gather for the one-day event.
Collecting information
Ms Kennedy, who is also a life peer, told the London event that communities were "being alienated" by the increased use of anti-terror laws beyond their original remit.
"There is a general feeling that in creating a climate of fear people have been writing a blank cheque to government," she said.
"People feel the fear of terrorism is being used to take away a lot of rights."
She added that people were "fearful of the general business of collecting too much information about individuals".
We have to accept that society and life carries risk
Dominic Grieve
Shadow justice secretary
Among other speakers are author Philip Pullman, former Guantanamo Bay detainee Moazzam Begg, director of public prosecutions Ken Macdonald and Liberty director Shami Chakrabarti.
Shadow justice secretary Dominic Grieve also spoke to the London audience on Saturday, arguing that the government's desire to control risk in society was "destroying our quality of life".
"We have to accept that society and life carries risk and whilst it is the duty of the state to do its best to moderate and prevent what is wrong, nevertheless there are finite limits," he said.
"We, as citizens, have to make this clear to government, we are prepared consciously as adults to accept some element of risk in order to be free."
'No political profit'
Mr Davis, who resigned from the Tory front bench last year to fight a by-election on the issue of civil liberties, spoke in a YouTube event ahead of the convention.
He said governments would reach to make "a naive clutch at often a very technological answer" to problems they could not solve - like crime and terrorism.
"Whether it's using DNA, or surveillance, or big databases or very smart software that can identify where your car goes in the country - all sorts of things... are changing the balance between state and citizen and piece by piece everybody's liberty, privacy, their rights are eroded.
"What we have to do is fight every single one because over time governments will realise there is no political profit in this."
David Davis MP
David Davis resigned from the shadow Cabinet to fight for civil liberties
The government's plans to extend the period terrorist suspects can be held before being charged led to a large Labour rebellion last year - and prompted Mr Davis's resignation.
They were later shelved following a heavy defeat in the House of Lords.
Last week the Liberal Democrats unveiled their "Freedom Bill" and pledged a review of the use of CCTV cameras, the abolition of ID cards and control orders for terrorism suspects.
And earlier this month the Lords constitution committee warned that electronic surveillance and collection of personal data were "pervasive" in British society and threatened to undermine democracy.
Last year Gordon Brown defended the use of CCTV, ID cards and the DNA database in a speech on civil liberties - saying they helped ensure people's right to live free from crime.
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45520000/jpg/_45520086_cctvparliament226cr_ap.jpg
The "database state", counter-terrorism laws and press freedom are among issues being discussed by campaigners at the Convention on Modern Liberty.
Organisers say hundreds of people are expected to attend the main event in London and gatherings across the UK.
One speaker, human rights lawyer Helena Kennedy QC, said terrorism "was being used to take away a lot of rights".
Tory David Davis, Lib Dem Vince Cable and ex-minister Lord Goldsmith are also among those scheduled to speak.
Gatherings will also be held in Belfast, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Glasgow and Manchester - organisers say they expect 1,000 people to gather for the one-day event.
Collecting information
Ms Kennedy, who is also a life peer, told the London event that communities were "being alienated" by the increased use of anti-terror laws beyond their original remit.
"There is a general feeling that in creating a climate of fear people have been writing a blank cheque to government," she said.
"People feel the fear of terrorism is being used to take away a lot of rights."
She added that people were "fearful of the general business of collecting too much information about individuals".
We have to accept that society and life carries risk
Dominic Grieve
Shadow justice secretary
Among other speakers are author Philip Pullman, former Guantanamo Bay detainee Moazzam Begg, director of public prosecutions Ken Macdonald and Liberty director Shami Chakrabarti.
Shadow justice secretary Dominic Grieve also spoke to the London audience on Saturday, arguing that the government's desire to control risk in society was "destroying our quality of life".
"We have to accept that society and life carries risk and whilst it is the duty of the state to do its best to moderate and prevent what is wrong, nevertheless there are finite limits," he said.
"We, as citizens, have to make this clear to government, we are prepared consciously as adults to accept some element of risk in order to be free."
'No political profit'
Mr Davis, who resigned from the Tory front bench last year to fight a by-election on the issue of civil liberties, spoke in a YouTube event ahead of the convention.
He said governments would reach to make "a naive clutch at often a very technological answer" to problems they could not solve - like crime and terrorism.
"Whether it's using DNA, or surveillance, or big databases or very smart software that can identify where your car goes in the country - all sorts of things... are changing the balance between state and citizen and piece by piece everybody's liberty, privacy, their rights are eroded.
"What we have to do is fight every single one because over time governments will realise there is no political profit in this."
David Davis MP
David Davis resigned from the shadow Cabinet to fight for civil liberties
The government's plans to extend the period terrorist suspects can be held before being charged led to a large Labour rebellion last year - and prompted Mr Davis's resignation.
They were later shelved following a heavy defeat in the House of Lords.
Last week the Liberal Democrats unveiled their "Freedom Bill" and pledged a review of the use of CCTV cameras, the abolition of ID cards and control orders for terrorism suspects.
And earlier this month the Lords constitution committee warned that electronic surveillance and collection of personal data were "pervasive" in British society and threatened to undermine democracy.
Last year Gordon Brown defended the use of CCTV, ID cards and the DNA database in a speech on civil liberties - saying they helped ensure people's right to live free from crime.