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HJA Civil Liberties

@hjacivillibs.bsky.social

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A dedicated feed from the Civil Liberties & Human Rights team at Hodge Jones & Allen solicitors. Protecting rights is our priority. https://www.hja.net/legal-services/civil-liberties-and-human-rights/ Tel: 0330 822 5788

www.hja.net

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HJA Civil Liberties @hjacivillibs.bsky.social · Jan 22

A Thames Valley Police Officer was jailed this week for engaging in a relationship with a suspect during an ongoing investigation. Sasha Barton of our team represents the victim of this serious breach of trust, who has been significantly impacted by the officer’s conduct. www.bbc.com/news/article...

Thames Valley Police officer who had sex with suspect jailed

Matthew Lynch, who was based in Slough, had a relationship with the woman for six months in 2021.

www.bbc.com

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HJA Civil Liberties @hjacivillibs.bsky.social · 24m

A government plan to give anonymity to firearms officers in England and Wales facing criminal charges would “ride roughshod over the principles of open justice,” damaging media ability to report on potential criminal activity, warn senior media figures www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Anonymity for firearms officers will harm public confidence, Shabana Mahmood told

Senior media figures say hiding names of those facing trial would ‘ride roughshod over the principles of open justice’

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by HJA Civil Liberties

Hodge Jones & Allen Solicitors @hodgejonesallen.bsky.social · 6h

This week at the #LampardInquiry, those we represent finally get to speak.

Ahead of their testimony, “grave concerns” regarding the controversial tech system Oxevision have been raised, with patients describing the 24/7 surveillance as traumatising & intrusive.

#MedicalNegligence

Security camera mounted on a blue-tinted building wall symbolizing surveillance in mental health services.

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INQUEST @inquest-org.bsky.social · 5h

A coalition of journalists and media lawyers have warned Shabana Mahmood that government plans to give anonymity to firearms officers facing criminal charges will damage public confidence in policing and fuel online misinformation.

We echo their call to the home secretary to think again.

Anonymity for firearms officers will harm public confidence, Shabana Mahmood told

Senior media figures say hiding names of those facing trial would ‘ride roughshod over the principles of open justice’

www.theguardian.com

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COPS campaign @copscampaign.bsky.social · 9h

It's the new #spycops inquiry hearings & they're setting out what we'll be finding in the coming weeks. This morning it was representatives of whistleblower Peter Francis @realspycop, & of families whose dead children's identities were stolen by spycops
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNO0...

Spycops inquiry reaction: morning 14 Oct 2025 - Maya Sikand KC & Fiona Murphy KC opening statements

YouTube video by Cops Campaign

www.youtube.com

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HJA Civil Liberties @hjacivillibs.bsky.social · 12h

Human rights defenders organizing to prevent climate catastrophe are facing a surge in reprisals, as governments around the world denigrate, delegitimize and criminalize activists in spite of worsening global heating, says UN special rapporteur Mary Lawlor www.theguardian.com/environment/...

‘It’s a road to destruction’: climate defenders facing surge in reprisals, says UN expert

Mary Lawlor, UN special rapporteur for human rights defenders, accuses US, UK and other governments of paying lip service to climate goals while criminalizing activists

www.theguardian.com

HJA Civil Liberties @hjacivillibs.bsky.social · 14h

Cuts to education in prisons are derailing offenders’ work and training and ultimately endangering the public, says chief inspector of prisons, Charlie Taylor
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

Education cuts in prisons ultimately endanger the public, watchdog says

Charlie Taylor hits out at risk of real-terms spending cuts in prisons in England and Wales derailing work to break cycle of reoffending

www.theguardian.com

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Paul F Scott @paulfscott.bsky.social · 1d

'A separate case brought against the Home Office by Privacy International, Liberty and two individuals, which challenges the lawfulness of the technical capability notice, is expected to continue.' www.computerweekly.com/news/3666325...

Apple and Home Office agree to drop legal claim over encryption backdoor | Computer Weekly

Apple has agreed with the Home Office to drop its legal claim against a government order requiring it to provide intelligence and law enforcement with the capability to access encrypted data of Apple ...

www.computerweekly.com

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HJA Civil Liberties @hjacivillibs.bsky.social · 1d

Niece of Agnes Wanjiru, a Kenyan woman allegedly murdered by a former British army soldier, is to visit the UK to meet the defence secretary and other MPs to push for the man's extradition www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Ms Wanjiru's family has long accused the British army of covering up her death

Agnes Wanjiru: Murdered Kenyan woman's niece to visit UK and press for ex-soldier's extradition

Esther Njoki says her family has been denied justice for 13 years after her aunt Agnes Wanjiru's body was found in a septic tank.

www.bbc.co.uk

HJA Civil Liberties @hjacivillibs.bsky.social · 1d

Laura Murton, a protester who was threatened with arrest under the Terrorism Act for holding a Palestine flag and signs saying “free Gaza” and “Israel is committing genocide,” has received an apology from police, including for unlawful false imprisonment www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Kent police apologise to protester threatened with arrest for holding Palestine flag

Force agrees to pay damages to Laura Murton, 43, who also had sign saying ‘Israel is committing genocide’

www.theguardian.com

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Rajesh Thind @rajeshthind.bsky.social · 1d

The Undercover Policing Inquiry returns today, 13th Oct 10am, starting with 3 days of opening statements, online only. This will be 3rd Tranche of hearings, which will look at deployments of Special Demonstration Squad officers from 1993 until that unit was closed in 2007 youtube.com/@undercoverp...

Undercover Policing Inquiry

The Official YouTube account of the Undercover Policing Inquiry. Please email [email protected] to contact the Inquiry.

youtube.com

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HJA Civil Liberties @hjacivillibs.bsky.social · 2d

A group of Cambridgeshire Police officers who shared racist, misogynistic and offensive messages with each other on a WhatsApp group would not have stopped had they not been uncovered, a disciplinary hearing concluded www.itv.com/news/anglia/...

www.itv.com

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HJA Civil Liberties @hjacivillibs.bsky.social · 3d

A domestic violence victim cannot sue a police force and the Crown Prosecution Service after her new address was disclosed to her abuser by a barrister in court, because of the "extension" of the immunity given to advocates in court, the Court of Appeal has ruled www.bbc.com/news/article...

Victim cannot sue authorities after abuser told new address

The Court of Appeal rules both the CPS and Sussex Police are protected by immunity.

www.bbc.com

HJA Civil Liberties @hjacivillibs.bsky.social · 4d

Nick Gratwick, who was found guilty on Friday of 38 paedophile offences and schemed to rape children as young as six, was revealed at his trial to have been a police informer who spied on environmental and animal rights activists @robevansgdn.bsky.social
#Spycops www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Man convicted of 38 paedophile offences revealed as police informer who spied on UK activists

Trial of Nick Gratwick, 68, who schemed to rape children as young as six, exposes previous role among green protesters

www.theguardian.com

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Hodge Jones & Allen Solicitors @hodgejonesallen.bsky.social · 4d

Paul Stephenson OBE was a cornerstone of British civil rights.

From the Bristol Bus Boycott to decades of campaigning, he pushed the nation toward justice and equality.

A fearless legacy worth honouring.

#BHM2025 #BlackHistoryMonth

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HJA Civil Liberties @hjacivillibs.bsky.social · 5d

The interim chair of the Criminal Cases Review Commission has announced a ‘full professional inspection’ of the body’s case work by the CPS inspectorate, following criticism over failures in high-profile miscarriages of justice and long delays to investigations
www.thejusticegap.com/miscarriage-...

Miscarriage of justice watchdog invites CPS inspectorate to review handling of potential wrongful convictions – The Justice Gap

www.thejusticegap.com

HJA Civil Liberties @hjacivillibs.bsky.social · 5d

British Transport Police officer PC Adrian Young, who put a 15-year-old girl in a headlock during an arrest, has been found guilty of assault www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Police officer who put girl in headlock found guilty of assault

Adrian Young, of British Transport Police, restrained 15-year-old at a train station in Camden, north London

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by HJA Civil Liberties

Liberty @libertyhq.bsky.social · 6d

NEW from Liberty Investigates:

UK universities have offered to monitor students social media accounts for arms companies concerned about campus protests

Full story below

www.theguardian.com/education/20...

UK universities offered to monitor students’ social media for arms firms, emails show

Loughborough, Heriot-Watt and Glasgow corresponded with companies concerned about campus protests

www.theguardian.com

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Deborah Coles @debcoles13.bsky.social · 6d

Vital work of museum of homelessness @ourmoh.bsky.social
bringing to light the shocking reality of deaths of people experiencing homelessness. museumofhomelessness.org/news/new-res...

Our investigation finds that 1611 people experiencing homelessness died in 2024 - a 9% increase on the previous year. — Museum of Homelessness

We are devastated to share our latest research into the deaths of those who die. It has revealed the continued impact at the sharpest edge of the homelessness crisis, as the Labour Government has fail...

museumofhomelessness.org

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HJA Civil Liberties @hjacivillibs.bsky.social · 6d

A Gloucestershire police officer who
transferred to the county earlier this year has been suspended pending a misconduct investigation after appearing in a BBC Panorama investigation that exposed racism and misogyny at Charing Cross Police Station www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Gloucestershire police officer suspended after Panorama programme

The officer, who transferred from the Metropolitan Police, faces a misconduct investigation.

www.bbc.co.uk

Reposted by HJA Civil Liberties

Liberty @libertyhq.bsky.social · 7d

Are you worried or confused about the proposed law to restrict 'cumulative protests'?

We've contributed to this article breaking down your protest rights and what this new law could mean

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...

How would tougher powers for police affect protests in England and Wales?

The home secretary has announced plans to allow officers to consider the impact of repeated demonstrations

www.theguardian.com

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INQUEST @inquest-org.bsky.social · 7d

🗞️ October 2025 Newsletter is out!

All of this month's latest updates including:

🟣 Landmark introduction of Hillsborough Law to Parliament
🟣Urgent amendments to Mental Health Bill to safeguard children
🟣Fatal consequences of racist immigration policies

Read more 🔽

Newsletter: October 2025

All the latest on the Hillsborough Law's introduction to Parliament, amendments to the Mental Health Bill and the fatal consequences of racist immigration policies

www.inquest.org.uk

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StopWatch @stopwatchuk.bsky.social · 7d

Trialling the return of sus laws, are we? Tory party policy proposals on stop and search policing seek to drag us backwards 40 years
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...

Tories unveil plan for stop and search blitz in crime hotspots

Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, announced the policy in a speech to the Conservative conference in Manchester this morning.

www.dailymail.co.uk

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HJA Civil Liberties @hjacivillibs.bsky.social · 7d

Clearsprings Ready Homes, a company providing accommodation to asylum seekers, has made nearly £187m in profits since being awarded lucrative government contracts, despite allegations of terrible conditions at the hotels it uses www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Asylum hotel provider makes £180m profit despite claims of inedible food and rationed loo paper

Asylum seekers and charities tell BBC of

www.bbc.co.uk

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Netpol @netpol.org · 7d

Netpol's 'State of Protest' report for 2024 launched with a stark title: ‘This is Repression’. On the second anniversary of the continuing genocide in Gaza, it is hard to know what we will call our assessment of protest rights for 2025.

Perhaps ‘An End to Our Illusions’? netpol.org/2025/10/06/a...

Photo of protesters opposing the ban on Palestine Action, Trafalgar Square, London, 4 October 2025

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HJA Civil Liberties @hjacivillibs.bsky.social · 8d

A firearms officer used excessive force when he shot dead 28-year-old Jermaine Baker in December 2015, a police misconduct hearing has been told www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Firearms officer used excessive force in fatal shooting of unarmed man in London, misconduct hearing told

Jermaine Baker, from Tottenham, killed during operation to stop plot to spring gang leader from prison in 2015