December 8th
This week, The Justice Beat focuses on secrets and lies… from Brexit impact reports to undercover policing.
But first… an invitation
Join a breakfast event at CrowdJustice next Wednesday 13th December, to hear more about this case, as covered here by the BBC. Quaker Sam Walton and legal team from Bindmans and Matrix will speak about their groundbreaking win. You can RSVP here.
Secret Brexit reports
1. Have we hit peak Twilight Zone? Six weeks ago David Davis told MPs that sectoral reports on the impact of Brexit existed “in excruciating detail”; but on Wednesday this week he said that the government had not carried out any impact assessments, writes the FT. On Thursday, the Good Law Project and MEP Molly Scott Cato issued proceedings against the government to seek disclosure of the reports. Heavy-weight information lawyers Timothy Pitt-Payne QC and Robin Hopkins of 11 KBW and Constantine Partasides QC of Three Crowns are instructed. You can read their pleadings and supporting evidence here and read more about their crowdfunding campaign here.
Secret NHS plans
2. Meanwhile, a shroud of secrecy also surrounds government plans for the NHS. Labour ministers are demanding that Parliament gets to vote on “secret” plans for the NHS which could lead to greater privatisation and rationing of care, writes the Guardian. The Department of Health refused to say if MPs would be able to debate the creation of “accountable care organisations” that some say are the biggest change to the NHS in 10 years. A group of doctors are issuing proceedings to challenge the new commercial non-NHS bodies and crowdfunding the costs.
Swedish secrets
3. A government inquiry in Sweden has proposed a new law that would make news publications that reveal “secret” or sensitive information regarding government or foreign affairs, liable for a charge of foreign espionage. The government has cited security concerns by way of rationale for the proposed law.
Secret relationships
4. It’s been over seven years since news first broke about the undercover policing relationships scandal and the women and children affected continue to seek justice. This week the Court held that a man whose father abandoned him as a child while working as an undercover police officer can sue the Metropolitan police for compensation.
5. Meanwhile despite the ongoing Inquiry, seven women psychologically and sexually abused by undercover policemen infiltrating UK protest groups have lodged a complaint to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. They claim the UK government has failed to prevent institutionalised discrimination against women by the police.
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This week on CrowdJustice, a group of citizens sue the UK government on failing to set appropriate carbon targets, a man grateful for the help of his local police officers is challenging the closure of London police stations and a campaign group brings a challenge to save South Tyneside Hospital.