This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/7915479.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Campaigners stage liberty events British 'careless' with liberties
(about 23 hours later)
The "database state", counter-terrorism laws and press freedom will be among issues discussed by campaigners at the Convention on Modern Liberty later. British people have been "careless" with their civil liberties, but that is beginning to change, former shadow home affairs minister David Davis has said.
Hundreds of people are expected to attend the main event in London, with other gatherings across the UK. Speaking at the Convention on Modern Liberty on Saturday, Mr Davis said people were growing increasingly angry at government intrusion in their lives.
Tory David Davis, Lib Dem Vince Cable and ex-minister Lord Goldsmith are among speakers from across politics. More than 1,000 people joined the event in London and at venues across the UK.
The morning's discussion will include a debate on "the crisis of fundamental rights and freedoms". Other speakers included former Guantanamo Bay detainee Moazzam Begg and Liberty director Shami Chakrabarti.
Gatherings will also be held in Belfast, Bristol, Cambridge, Glasgow and Manchester - organisers say they expect 1,000 people to gather for the one-day event. Gatherings were also be held in Belfast, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Glasgow and Manchester to debate issues such as the "database state", counter-terrorism laws and press freedom.
Among other speakers are author Philip Pullman, former Guantanamo Bay detainee Moazzam Begg, director of public prosecutions Ken Macdonald and Liberty director Shami Chakrabarti. 'Being alienated'
Speaking in a YouTube event to publicise the event, Mr Davis, who resigned from the Tory front bench last year to fight a by-election on the issue of civil liberties, said encroachments on civil liberties had to be fought at every step. Mr Davis, who resigned from the Conservative front bench last year to fight a by-election on the issue of civil liberties, said the British public had been "casual" with their freedom and privacy in the past.
He said governments would reach to make "a naive clutch at often a very technological answer" to problems they could not solve - like crime and terrorism. "They treat it carelessly, like a very old suit that they have had a very long time, [but] times are changing.
'Shifting balance' "Something is happening in the hearts and minds of our country." People feel the fear of terrorism is being used to take away a lot of rights Helena Kennedy QCHuman rights lawyer and life peer
"Whether it's using DNA, or surveillance, or big databases or very smart software that can identify where your car goes in the country - all sorts of things... are changing the balance between state and citizen and piece by piece everybody's liberty, privacy, their rights are eroded. Mr Davis said policies like ID cards and detention without trial for terror suspects were initially popular with the electorate, but were now drawing widespread opposition.
"What we have to do is fight every single one because over time governments will realise there is no political profit in this." Others speaking at the convention agreed with him. Human rights lawyer and life peer Helena Kennedy QC, said communities were "being alienated" by the increased use of anti-terror laws beyond their original remit.
"There is a general feeling that in creating a climate of fear people have been writing a blank cheque to government," she said.
"People feel the fear of terrorism is being used to take away a lot of rights."
She added that people were "fearful of the general business of collecting too much information about individuals".
Also speaking to the London event was Mr Begg. He was asked about fellow detainee Binyam Mohamed, who was released from Guantanamo and returned to Britain this week.
Mr Mohamed claims he was tortured while in US custody - and with UK knowledge - and Mr Begg said he was "eager to pursue justice" for his alleged treatment.
"He does not want to talk about the torture, which I understand because it was much worse for him than it was for the rest of us," he said.
"But there is clearly a feeling in his mind that he has a duty to speak out for those that remain behind but also to expose the secret detention process."
Mr Begg said it was "time to look right in our back yard" at Britain's role in the alleged mistreatment of terror suspects. We have to accept that society and life carries risk Dominic GrieveShadow justice secretary
'Finite limits'
Shadow justice secretary Dominic Grieve also spoke to the London audience, arguing that the government's desire to control risk in society was "destroying our quality of life".
"We have to accept that society and life carries risk and whilst it is the duty of the state to do its best to moderate and prevent what is wrong, nevertheless there are finite limits," he said.
"We, as citizens, have to make this clear to government, we are prepared consciously as adults to accept some element of risk in order to be free."
The government's plans to extend the period terrorist suspects can be held before being charged led to a large Labour rebellion last year - and prompted Mr Davis's resignation.The government's plans to extend the period terrorist suspects can be held before being charged led to a large Labour rebellion last year - and prompted Mr Davis's resignation.
They were later shelved following a heavy defeat in the House of Lords.They were later shelved following a heavy defeat in the House of Lords.
Last week the Liberal Democrats unveiled their "Freedom Bill" and pledged a review of the use of CCTV cameras, the abolition of ID cards and control orders for terrorism suspects.Last week the Liberal Democrats unveiled their "Freedom Bill" and pledged a review of the use of CCTV cameras, the abolition of ID cards and control orders for terrorism suspects.
They accuse the Labour government of presiding "over the slow death by a thousand cuts of our hard-won British freedoms".
And earlier this month the Lords constitution committee warned that electronic surveillance and collection of personal data were "pervasive" in British society and threatened to undermine democracy.And earlier this month the Lords constitution committee warned that electronic surveillance and collection of personal data were "pervasive" in British society and threatened to undermine democracy.
Last year Gordon Brown defended the use of CCTV, ID cards and the DNA database in a speech on civil liberties - saying they helped ensure people's right to live free from crime.Last year Gordon Brown defended the use of CCTV, ID cards and the DNA database in a speech on civil liberties - saying they helped ensure people's right to live free from crime.
He argued that those people threatening security were ready to use the most up-to-date technology - and the challenge was to use technology to counter that.