The Consenting Adults Action Network (CAAN) have just published a book (booklet?) by Jane Fae Ozimek (one of the last projects written as John Ozimek) - Beyond the Circle. I got my copy of it the other week and have read it over the past couple of days (the joy of a nicely timed work commute).

I know I'm a few days late to this but I've been a little busy. There are two sets of police adverts which have been going up recently, both of which are disturbing.

First up are the Policing Pledge posters. These are fashioned after the "KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON" posters and feature such freedom affirming slogans as

WE WANT TO GIVE YOU A GOOD TALKING TO

YOU HAVE THE RIGHT not TO REMAIN SILENT

ANYTHING YOU SAY MAY be taken down AND USED AS EVIDENCE

After a mere 4 and a bit years, an Information Commissioner decision, a High Court ruling and many thousands of pounds in legal fees the government has finally released two "gateway reports" (2003, 2004). All that delay and expense, by the way, was for a perfectly valid reason - they wanted clarity on how much they should disclose with Gateway Reviews. Nothing at all to do with the actual content.

First up, some quick housekeeping - the government has withdrawn Clause 152 pending "further consultation". Working in an Advice Centre and seeing where some very common mistakes could be avoided by the housing benefit office talking to the student support office (both within the council) I can see that there are some very real benefits that could be gained.

One of the things to come out of The Convention on Modern Liberty on Saturday was a warning about Section 152 of the Coroners and Justice Bill. This section, as the warning goes, allows any government department to bypass the data protection act. An urgent call to act has been raised.

Before I act though, I like to look at what the situation actually is, what the threat is, and what my concerns are. Which is what this post is about.

Fred Goodwin's "pension" is an interesting case study in Civil Liberties. I find his £693,000/year "pension" following his early retirement and departure from the bank he lead to meltdown to be abborhent. It is over 30 times my own salary. And I have to work for that.

I get home today and see a yellowy envelope face down on the floor. I recognise it - I've had two before. Picking it up and turning it over confirms it's from the my concerns over MPs expenses and Freedom of Information sent on 21st January? Or is it my comments on the Digital Britain report sent on Wednesday (10th February)?

I'm seriously at risk of appearing sympathetic to Tories here, but this is why I don't like the anti-terrorism laws that NewLabour have brought in. Why detention without charge is not appropriate.

For a primer, try my previous entry or the BBC article.

Good afternoon. I had intended to make this statement in the House of Commons, the appropriate place in my view for something as important as this but the speaker ruled that because it revisited controversial issues from yesterday it was not appropriate. So I'm going to read the statement I was about to make in the House. It will take a couple of minutes

Arghh! I'm confused. Last night Labour won their battle to allow for 42 days detention without charge. This, along with many other Labour laws and policies makes a mockery of our democracy, our freedom and our civil liberties.