Media Coverage
The Telegraph – Innocent people’s DNA profiles won’t be deleted after all, minister admitsDaniel Hamilton, a director at campaign group Big Brother Watch, said: “This is a disgraceful U-turn on the part of the government. Destroying physical DNA samples is a pointless gesture if the computer records are to be retained.
“Despite paying lip service to freedom and civil liberties, this government is fast proving itself to be every bit as illiberal as its predecessor.”
The Guardian – Welcome to Royston … you’re under surveillance
In June, three campaign groups – NoCCTV, Privacy International and Big Brother Watch – made a complaint to the Information Commissioner’s Office, alleging the Royston ANPR installation is illegal.
But Daniel Hamilton, director of the civil liberties group Big Brother Watch, told the BBC: “The information will still be held by the state and won’t be deleted, which represents a U-turn.”The details were uncovered by civil liberties group Big Brother Watch following a request under the Freedom of Information Act, for the three years from 2008 to 2010.
Commenting on the research findings, Daniel Hamilton, director of Big Brother Watch added: “Police forces must adopt a zero tolerance approach to this kind of behaviour.
“Those found guilty of abusing their position should be sacked on the spot.”
Stoke Sentinel – £5m upgrade for eyes in the sky; Current CCTV system is at ‘end of its life’ [not available online]
Daniel Hamilton, of privacy campaign group Big Brother Watch, said: “Evidence for the ability of CCTV to deter or solve crimes is sketchy at best.“Residents will be outraged the council is intending to blow this much on a new CCTV network.”
BBC News – Ministers accused of DNA database U-turn
But Daniel Hamilton, director of the civil liberties group Big Brother Watch, said the anonymised samples would still have a bar code on them which would allow them to be “married up” with information about individuals.“The information will still be held by the state and won’t be deleted, which represents a U-turn by the government,” he told BBC News.
“Destroying physical DNA samples is a pointless gesture if the computer records are to be retained.
“Despite paying lip service to freedom and civil liberties, this government is fast proving itself to be every bit as illiberal as its predecessor”.
The Guardian – Police forces come together to create new regional surveillance unitsDaniel Hamilton, director of pressure group Big Brother Watch, expressed concern over “expansion by stealth” of the police’s ability to conduct invasive surveillance, and called for a review of the police’s Ripa powers. “While covert operations play an important role in solving criminal investigations, these operations should be the exception, not the norm,” he said. “Expanding the use of wiretaps and the monitoring of internet connections risks dragging scores of innocent people into police investigations they should rightly play no part in.
“The government has pledged to limit the ease by which local councils can utilise Ripa powers. A similar review of police Ripa powers should take place.”
Medway News – Police fired 10 for data abuse [not available online]
According to figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act by website Big Brother Watch, which scrutinises public bodies, Kent Police terminated employment in ten cases and a further 28 workers faced internal disciplinary procedures between 2007 and 2010.