Important day for human rights
January 13, 2010
Posted by:Oliver Jeffcott
Today is an important day for human rights. Firstly, it is the beginning of the trial of the defendants of the attempted Heathrow Airport heist in 2004. This is the first crown court criminal trial without a jury in England and Wales for more than 350 years. This was allowed because the Judge found there was a 'real and present danger' of jury tampering.
Also, the European Court of Human Rights has ruled that powers of the Police to stop and search people under the terror laws (i.e. without grounds for suspicion) are illegal. This is because they are a violation of article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights - that we have the right of respect for one's "private and family life, his home and his correspondence".
I wonder what the rest of the year will bring!