Letwin wants increased penalties for refusal to decrypt

[David Hansen]

On 16 Aug 2002 at 9:54, Peter Sommer wrote:

> To be fair, one way in which you might guess the contents of an
> encrypted "container" etc is by looking at the surrounding
> circumstances

To be fair, such ideas have been behind a number of legal cock-ups 
(grandly named miscarriages of justice by the legal mob). It is very 
easy to make false accusations (Stefan Kiszko) or string together a 
hotch potch of minor things (Lockerbie) and so cock things up. Of 
course the legal mob have yet to admit that the latter is a cock up, 
but I'm certain they will eventually.

> I'd
> have thought we could do with a bit of practical experience of how the
> two-year maximum punishment works out for law enforcement and the
> courts...

Such thoughts fail the basic test for party politicians. Can I appear 
in the newspapers and on television/radio jumping up and down and 
asking for something to be done in order to boost my profile?

--
  David Hansen, Edinburgh | PGP email preferred-key number F566DA0E
 I will *always* explain why I revoke a key, unless the UK 
 government prevents me using the RIP Act 2000.