Hansard: Written Answer: at least 8 RIPA part III section 49 notices since last October

[David Hansen]

On 1 May 2008 at 19:33, Dave Howe wrote:

> The whole problem with RIPa is that they don't have 
> to demonstrate due cause to a judge, they can just decide theselves they 
> need the keys...
 
That is certainly one of the main problems.

There are other problems. For example poachers are hardly fit and 
proper people to decide what is necessary and proportionate. There is a 
court case going on about this at the moment about the increasingly 
Sasi like activities of the police against people who do not blindly 
follow the government line. <http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7377437.stm> 
refers. 

If it wasn't so serious the assertion by Mr Blair's lawyers would be 
highly amusing. "Lawyers representing Met Police Commissioner Sir Ian 
Blair insist that any interference with Mr Wood's human rights was at a 
very low level and in pursuit of the legitimate aim of preventing 
crime."

A more grown up view of events was given by someone who I assume is a 
lawyer acting for the victim. "But Mr Westgate said: "It may well be 
that a group of police officers may consider this was behaving in an 
entirely amicable, non-intimidatory way, but that is not the way it 
appears on the receiving end.""

We will see whether the courts come to the right decision or not.






-- 
  David Hansen, Edinburgh 
 I will *always* explain revoked encryption keys, unless RIP prevents 
me   
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/00023--e.htm#54