Middle class to pay higher fines for the same offence
Better-off people will have to pay heavier fines for
offences such as speeding under a Bill published yesterday that links
penalties to income.
The level of the fine will also be governed by the offender’s ability to pay.
Source: news.telegraph, January 14, 2005
Mum backs DIY bullets crackdown
WHAT a wonderful Christmas present that is." That was the delighted
reaction today of the mother of murdered Leeds police officer Ian
Broadhurst to news that the Government has taken a major step towards
stopping criminals being able to produce home-made ammunition.
PC Broadhurst was executed by American-born David Bieber – with bullets he had been able to legally manufacture himself.
Source: Leeds Today Evening Post (online), December 24, 2004
Teachers told to promote Gay Pride
Schools are being urged to advertise gay lifestyles to children in a
Government drive to ‘challenge homophobia’. In an attempt to clamp down
on supposedly homophobic language, the guidelines say teachers should be
reported if they refer to boys as ‘sissies’, accuse them of standing
around ‘like a mothers’ meeting’ or
call them a ‘bunch of girls’.
Source: Daily Mail (online), December 24, 2004
Rebel bid fails to block ID cards
Tory and Labour rebels failed tonight to block Government plans to press ahead with identity cards.
The revolt was an embarrassment both for Tony Blair and Tory
leader Michael Howard, who threw his party’s support behind the
legislation.
Times Online, December 20, 2004
Mother Wins Permission to Challenge Abortion Guidelines
A mother-of-five has won permission to challenge guidelines that
allow abortions to be carried out on young girls without their parents’
knowledge…
Department of Health guidelines state terminations can take place without parental consent.
Source: news.scottsman.com, December 15, 2004
State has a role in family life, says minister
The government has the right to intervene in family
life because there are social implications in the way parents bring up
their children, one of Tony Blair’s closest allies said yesterday.
In an interview with The Telegraph, Margaret Hodge, the
children’s minister, said the state had always influenced young
people’s lives through schools and she wanted to extend that influence
to the home.
Source: news.telegraph (online), 11/26/2004
ID card doubts – Blunkett blames dead German philosopher
Home Secretary David Blunkett said today that the German philosopher
Immanuel Kant is to blame for scepticism about the government’s plans
for a compulsory national identity card. He was speaking at a meeting at
the Institute of Public Policy Research, restating his arguments in
favour of the scheme.
Source: The Register (online), November 17, 2004
‘Spy’ under bonnet could stop speeding
Speed limiters could be fitted to cars in London under radical plans
backed by the Mayor. The electronic under-bonnet "spy" would make it
impossible to exceed legal limits over the entire capital.
Source: ThisIsLondon (online), September 23, 2004
Increase in state databases ‘a threat to civil liberties’
The government has lost control of the growing network of state
databases monitoring every aspect of modern life, presenting dangers for
basic liberties, a senior Labour MP warned yesterday.
John Denham, a former Home Office minister who is sometimes seen as
an "outrider" for Tony Blair, the Prime Minister, and his political
followers, called for a set of rules limiting the spread of so-called
Big Brother databases, and clearly defining citizens’ rights to see and
correct their records.
Source: The Scotsman (online), August 17, 2004
Children of criminals to be ‘targeted’ and ‘tracked’
Children of criminals are to be "targeted" and "tracked" from an
early age by the Government to prevent them following their parents into
a life of crime, as part of a campaign to tackle the next generation of
offenders.
Source: independent.co.uk, August 16, 2004
Scanner set to lay bare the secrets of air travellers
It may sound like a gadget from a futuristic film but the full body
scanner, which sees straight through people’s clothing, is coming soon
to airports in the UK.
Source: independent.co.uk, May 10, 2004
Oral sex lessons to cut rates of teenage pregnancy
Encouraging schoolchildren to experiment with oral sex could prove
the most effective way of curbing teenage pregnancy rates, a government
study has found.
Source: The Observer (online), May 9, 2004
ID cards won’t stop attacks, says Blunkett
David Blunkett yesterday watered down suggestions that
ID cards would stop terrorists as he set out plans to introduce a
compulsory scheme within 10 years.
The Home Secretary denied that the main reason for proceeding with the first ID scheme in 50 years was to counter terrorism.
Source: news.telegraph, September 30, 2004
ID cards ‘compulsory by 2008
Everyone in Britain could be forced to have identity cards within
five years under a fast-track plan by David Blunkett which is backed by
Tony Blair and gaining support within the Cabinet.
Source: independent.co.uk, April 5, 2004
Sweeping new powers in UK war on terror
Terror suspects could be convicted on the evidence of ‘electronic
eavesdropping’ of phone calls and emails under sweeping moves to combat
the threat of an al-Qaeda atrocity.
In a blunt admission that the risk of attack remains ‘real and
serious’, Home Secretary David Blunkett will pledge a massive staffing
boost for MI5. Priorities will include linguists, translators and
surveillance to help infiltrate overseas-sponsored terror networks in
Britain.
Source: Guardian Unlimited, February 22, 2004
Big Brother in Britain: Does more surveillance work?
More than 4 million cameras observe all aspects of life, from town
centers to transport systems, office towers to banks, commercial zones
to residential areas, restaurants, bars, and even churches.
Christian Science Monitor (online), February 6, 2004
Four million CCTV cameras watch public. UK has the highest level of
surveillance
More than four million surveillance cameras monitor our every move,
making Britain the most-watched nation in the world, research has
revealed.
Source: The Independent (online), January 12, 2004
Charities back ban on public smoking
Smoking in pubs, restaurants and clubs across Scotland could be banned under controversial new legislation.
In a significant toughening of its stance, the Scottish Executive is
considering a total ban on smoking in public places as part of wider
moves to tackle the growing cancer crisis.
Source: The Scotsman (online), December 29, 2003
Police call for remote button to stop cars
After speed cameras, road humps and mobile phone bans, there could be
more bad news for Britain’s motorists. Police are urging Ministers to
give them the power to stop vehicles by remote control.
In what will be seen as yet another example of the in-creasing power
of Big Brother, drivers face the prospect of their cars being halted by
somebody pushing a button.
Source: The Observer Guardian Unlimited (online), December 21, 2003
Spying machines’ spread worries rights groups
In Britain, Big Brother really is watching you almost everywhere,
according to civil liberties campaigners alarmed by the proliferation of
spying machines in trains, buses, high streets, sports stadiums and
perhaps soon even in clothes.
"In terms of western democracies, we are by far and away the most
spied-upon nation," said Mark Littleton, second in command at citizens’
rights group Liberty.
Source: Taipei Times (online), December 19, 2003
The nanny state says: baby must do its physical jerks, too
Parents will be told to give their babies a daily 10-minute exercise
routine to help improve their infants’ mental skills under a
government-backed scheme to be launched this week.
Source: Telegraph News (online), November 30, 2003
Smart cards track commuters
Civil rights campaigners have expressed concerns about the new smart travelcards introduced for London commuters.
Under the new system, Transport for London will be able to track a
commuter’s movements and it plans to retain information on journeys made
for "a number of years"
Source: BBC News World Edition (online), September 25, 2003
Public backs ID cards but balks at £40 fee, poll says
The public overwhelmingly supports the idea of
compulsory identity cards, says a YouGov opinion poll published today in
The Telegraph. But it strongly objects to having to pay £40 for them.
Seven per cent of those asked were so opposed to the
cards that they said they would refuse to acquire or carry one. This
suggests that if the Government introduces legislation for cards this
year, as expected, the police would have to act against some three
million "refuseniks".
Source: News.telegraph.co.uk, August 9, 2003
Every single person in the UK should be compelled to have their DNA
on the national database in an effort to prevent crime, a senior police
officer has argued.
Currently about two million people who have been charged with
criminal offences have their DNA profiles on the national database.
Source: BBC News World Edition (online), September 8, 2003
The home secretary, David Blunkett, is to stage a pilot scheme this
autumn to test the introduction of a national identity card despite the
lack of strong cabinet backing for the idea.
The Home Office confirmed last night that a six-month trial, testing
the use of new generation fingerprint and eye-scanning technology, would
be completed by April to "assess customer perceptions and reactions"
and estimate costs. It is believed that the trial will be carried out in
an as yet unnamed small market town with a population of about 10,000.
Source: The Guardian Unlimited (online), August 27, 2003
DNA database pledges to defend confidentiality
The scientist in charge of setting up Britain’s DNA databank, which
will collect information on the lifestyle, health and genes of 500,000
people, said he will oppose any attempt by police or the courts to gain
access to the data.
Source: Independent.co.uk, August 25, 2003
British drug regulators warn that GlaxoSmithKline’s
popular antidepressant Paxil causes depressed children to become more
suicidal and should not be prescribed for them; Glaxo vice president
Alan Metz says company is not warning American doctors against use of
drug for depressed children; notes Paxil is not approved in US for
treating children but that many doctors prescribe drug for children
anyway
Source: New York Times Archive, June 11, 2003
Drivers face automatic speeding fines without being caught by the
police or roadside cameras under a proposal being studied by the
Government to fit all cars with satellite tracking devices for road
tolls.
Under the anti-congestion tolling plan being examined by the
Department for Transport, all vehicles would be fitted with a ‘black
box’ to charge drivers according to the type of road they are using and
when they are driving.
Source: Guardian Unlimited (online UK news), August 3, 2003
Cameras linked to the internet should be installed in every classroom
so parents can see whether their children are misbehaving in school.
Teachers who unveiled the plan today said they believed it could be
the key to improving discipline, and involving parents in their
children’s education.
Source: thisislondon.com, July 29, 2003
Sunscreen ban at school for girl, 10
A 10-year-old girl was barred from applying sun cream
at school for fear that her classmates might share it and have an
allergic reaction.
Source: telegraph.co.uk, July 19, 2003
Compulsory sex education for five-year-olds will be demanded today by
government advisers on teenage pregnancy, as an essential step towards
halving the under-18 conception rate by 2010.
Source: Guardian Unlimited (online), July 11, 2002
Every baby’s DNA may be stored for future health care
All babies born in Britain could have their DNA stored
in a national databank for their future medical treatment as part of a
£50m genetics initiative published yesterday.
Source: independent.co.uk, June 25, 2003
Sports day ban on parents ‘to spare the losers
A primary school [Birmingham] has banned parents from
attending its annual sports day, with egg and spoon and bstacle races,
to spare the children from embarrassment if they do not win.
Instead, a non-competitive sports day will be held behind closed doors.
Source: news.telegraph.co.uk, May 19, 2003
Government urges under-16s to experiment with oral sex
A GOVERNMENT-backed course is encouraging pupils under 16 to
experiment with oral sex, as part of a drive to cut rates of teenage
pregnancy.
Family campaigners believe that the course, called A Pause, is having the reverse effect by exciting the sexual interest of children.
Source: Times Online, February 21, 2003
Little Brother’s fingerprints all over the library
It promised to be the high-tech saviour of the embattled
primary-school librarian, an ingenious device that guaranteed no more
lost library cards and fewer missing books.
All a child had to do to borrow Topsy & Tim for the week
was flick a thumb through an unobtrusive fingerprint scanner, so
sensitive it could even recognise a pattern from under layers of sticky
chocolate.
Source: Times OnLine, July 23, 2002
Spy in the car will charge drivers for jams
EVERY motorist in Britain will be monitored by
satellite and charged for using busy routes under plans being presented
by the Government’s transport commissioner this week.
Under the proposals cars would be fitted with a global positioning device and drivers bille for sitting in traffic jams.
Source: London Telegraphy, 24/02/2002
Blair orders DNA register of criminals
Tony Blair, Prime Minister of England, announced plans
to register all criminals in the national DNA database within three
years. Police currently have the power to DNA test persons charged with
"reportable" crimes, but the additional money would allow testing to be
conducted on persons involved in minor crimes. Civil liberty groups are
concerned about the planned testing.
Source: syndication.newsint.co.uk, The Times, September 1, 2000
Police Surveillance of Internet To Be Regulated
The British Parliament is planning to regulate how
police can intercept emails and unscramble encrypted messages. This
regulation will cover the use of undercover informants, and it will
regulate police access to internal telephone networks."
Source: Line One, February 10, 2000
The prime minister has set a target of getting half of
young people into higher education – with the offer of a discount ‘smart
card’ as an
incentive
Source:
BBC Online, September 28, 1999
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