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1. Parliament has issued a Briefing note for MPs w/r/t the Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Bill (CHIS Bill) which is available as a PDF from here: https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-9012/CBP-9012.pdf.
2. The introduction contains the following:
3. Re Point 1: that is no safeguard, given the government's desire to do away with the Human Rights Act (and, arguably, to ignore rulings from the European Court of Human Rights in future as a consequence). This is not a viable means of oversight under the current Administration.
4. Re Point 2 : if there is no, or no viable, safeguard under HRA/ECHR, an authority is able to authorise any form of criminality it sees fit. There is no judicial oversight as to whether the authorisation is proportionate.
5. Re point 3: There will be no redress through the courts unless a crime is committed by an "intelligence source" that was not authorised.
6. CHIS also authorises crimes committed by children if they are "intelligence sources". Yes, children. (But they won't use children to spy on their parents. Yet.)
7. When would CHIS apply? In the following scenarios:
8. Note the point "for another purpose specified in an order......."
What is affirmative resolution? A Minister makes an Order by presenting a draft which is passed by both Houses by Resolution There's room for short debate, but there's no process for amendments like a Bill.
What is affirmative resolution? A Minister makes an Order by presenting a draft which is passed by both Houses by Resolution There's room for short debate, but there's no process for amendments like a Bill.
9. Who are the authorities which can authorise criminal activity under CHIS?:
10. The CHIS Bill effectively amends existing legislation and expands it to legalise criminal behaviour by government employees. Why should Labour vote down this Bill?
Well, isn't that blindingly obvious?
Well, isn't that blindingly obvious?
