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Dear Larry,

Boris Johnson is our Prime Minister and he’s chosen his inner circle.  As far as our rights and freedoms are concerned, the appointments make for grim reading.

• The Prime Minister wants to boost the use of racist stop and search and voted to get rid of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.

• The Home Secretary, Priti Patel, has expressed support for the death penalty and consistently voted against basic human rights protections.

• The Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, is just one of a number of high-profile cabinet members who want to scrap the Human Rights Act.

Our human rights are not theirs to throw away. Thankfully the Human Rights Act  enables every single one of us to stand up to power.

For 20 years, the Human Rights Act has been used by ordinary people – soldiers, people in care, journalists, disabled people, workers, children – to defend their rights and hold the powerful to account.

It’s protected our right to protest and pray, to think what we like and say what we think, and to keep our private lives private.  It’s forced the police to do a better job investigating crime and helped people like the Hillsborough families uncover the truth and fight for justice.

But our rights and freedoms are not safe in this Government’s hands.

It’s never been more vital that everyone knows their rights. This is why we’re giving away our pocket-sized guide to the Human Rights Act. 

Know your rights: stand up to power.

Best wishes,

Martha Spurrier

Director

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Thank you for signing up for Liberty email updates.

More than 80 years of experience have taught us that there will always be attacks on our civil liberties and threats to our human rights.

With your help we can make sure that Liberty is always there to protect a fair, free future for all of us.

If you have any questions, please get in touch with us on 020 7378 3663 or email membership@liberty-human-rights.org.uk.

Liberty
 

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Dear Larry,

Discriminatory facial recognition surveillance technology is being used on our streets and in public places like shopping centres and train stations. It’s time to ban it. Sign the petition now.

Facial recognition cameras scan everyone within range to make biometric maps of their faces – more like fingerprints than photographs. These are then compared to images on secretive watchlists. 

Thousands of people are scanned at every deployment without their consent – and often without their knowledge. This is a shocking invasion of privacy. 

Research shows that when people know they are under surveillance, they behave differently to avoid unjustified suspicion, altering where they go and who they go with. 

The tech has also been proven to discriminate against people of colour and women, meaning they are more likely to be misidentified and stopped, questioned and searched by the police. And police have often chosen to use it in locations with predominantly black, Asian and minority ethnic or working-class populations, embedding discriminatory approaches to policing.

And we know at least one police force has plans to start using the tech on officers’ mobile phones, making it easier for them to scan us on the move.

The tech has also been used by private companies in busy shopping centres and transport hubs, scanning thousands of people every day. 

Police use of facial recognition on our streets and private company use in publicly accessible places must be banned.

The Metropolitan Police is due to decide whether to roll live facial recognition out across London at any moment. An independent report on its use of the tech to date says it has failed to protect human rights.

And Liberty has taken South Wales Police to court to end its use of live facial recognition in public. But while we wait for the Court’s decision, the force has scanned another 87,500 people. 

Private companies have also used facial recognition on shoppers and commuters – some in conjunction with the police. Other forces and companies will follow their lead.

Sign the petition to get this dangerous and discriminatory mass surveillance tool off our streets for good. 

Thank you for your support,

Hannah Couchman
Policy and Campaigns Officer 

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Dear Larry,

We understand – and share – the concern people have expressed over the Prime Minister’s move to prorogue Parliament, and the implications for debate, deliberation and the passage of laws – which are all key features of our democracy.

Parliamentary sovereignty is the foundational principle of our unwritten constitution.  A fundamental role of Parliament is to hold the Government to account for its actions. Any attempt to sidestep proper democratic scrutiny undermines the rule of law and threatens our rights and freedoms. 

We are closely following developments in Parliament this week and considering what action if any we might take, mindful of the importance of maintaining Liberty's historic and highly valued independent, cross-party non-party status.

Thank you for your continued support.

Best Wishes,

Clare Collier

Advocacy Director

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Dear Larry,

People across the country are being fined, arrested and prosecuted simply for being homeless – take action now.

Police forces across England and Wales are still using the Vagrancy Act to prosecute people for begging and rough sleeping. 

This law came into force in 1824 – less than 10 years after the Napoleonic Wars and a decade before the British Empire abolished slavery. It even predates the formation of the police who enforce it.

But research from Crisis shows that thousands of people have been charged under the Vagrancy Act over the last few years – and more than 20,000 since 2008. 

Homelessness is caused by complex social issues which cannot possibly be solved by criminal sanctions. It’s time this out-of-date, out-of-touch law was scrapped.

Theresa May’s Government promised to review it. This was never good enough, but does show Westminster’s willingness to engage.

The Government and Homelessness Minister, Luke Hall MP, must turn their attention to scrapping the Vagrancy Act for good.

Fining and giving criminal records to people who have nothing is at best counterproductive. At worst it’s cruel. 

Use our quick and easy tool today to email your MP, asking them to alert the Homelessness Minister to this critical – but easily fixed – issue.

Thank you for your support.

Sam Grant
Policy and Campaigns Manager

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Dear Larry,

Defend the rule of law: Join Liberty 

Yesterday we launched our legal action to prevent Prime Minister Boris Johnson from flouting the law by refusing to extend the Brexit deadline. This is not about party politics or Brexit. It’s about upholding the rule of law. It requires an unshakeable, independent and non-party political organisation to step up to defend our constitutional principles. That organisation is Liberty.

For 85 years, we’ve held governments of every colour and persuasion to account. We live in extraordinary times and Liberty’s role of standing up to power is more important than ever.

But we can only defend the rule of law, fight for our human rights and work to make the UK fairer for everyone with people like you standing with us.

Liberty is only as strong as its members. By becoming a member today, you will be joining thousands of other like-minded people who challenge injustice wherever they see it.

We’re proud of our principled political neutrality, which allows us to work with Parliamentarians from across the political spectrum to defend our hard-won freedoms and ensure that the rule of law isn’t undermined.

From resisting biased privacy-invading facial recognition technology to fighting for an end to the hostile environment, Liberty is at the forefront of campaigning for a fairer UK. The threat to democracy posed by our Prime Minister’s apparent intention to disobey the law is an abuse of power that we will challenge fearlessly.

If you want to join an organisation that will rise to the challenges of the turbulent times we’re living through, I ask that you become a member today. 

Best wishes

Martha Spurrier

Director

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Dear Larry,

Liberty has held Governments of all colours and persuasions to account since we were founded in 1934. Today, we uphold that tradition as we seek a judicial review to ensure the Prime Minister obeys the law.

Over the past week, there’s been confusion and doubt about whether Prime Minister Boris Johnson will comply with the European Union (Withdrawal) (No. 2) Act 2019. He has indicated that he may flout the law to avoid seeking an extension to the Brexit deadline.

We’re living in extraordinary political times. We as a nation are beyond doing ‘business as usual’. But just because we’re beyond the norm doesn’t mean the Government is now beyond the law.

Liberty is neutral on the issue of Brexit. Our case is nothing to do with whether the UK leaves the European Union or how we leave. Our issue is about upholding legal obligations because if a Prime Minster defies the law we are in dangerous waters.

To allow a Government, in whatever circumstance, to punch through parliamentary process and its laws because it’s not working in the way they would like, should concern everyone in Britain.

Brexit has left us, as a nation, in a blur of confusion. Separating what is really happening from the mess of party politics is all but impossible. This is why Liberty is stepping up to defend the rule of law by asking the courts to uphold our constitutional principles.

This case must be brought by a wholly independent body such as Liberty, because this is not a party political or Brexit issue – it is far, far more fundamental than that.  Our role has always been to robustly challenge unjust laws, policies and practices whoever is responsible for them.

Our case is simple: the UK Government, whoever it is made up of and whatever it is seeking to do, must always act lawfully. If the Prime Minister fails to do so, then we will see him in court.

We can only hold the Government to account with the support of people like you. Please join us as a Liberty member today to be part of our work to challenge injustice, uphold the rule of law and ensure the UK is a fair place for everyone. 

Best wishes,

Martha Spurrier

Director

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Dear Larry,

Today’s Supreme Court judgment is a victory for the rule of law. It’s a reminder that in this country no one is above the law and our judges will hold the powerful to account without fear or favour. 

Whatever you think about the decision to prorogue Parliament and whatever you think about Brexit, this is our constitutional system working exactly as it should – the judiciary independently scrutinising the actions of the Government. Accountability in action. 

The UK does not have a written constitution, but it does have constitutional principles. Principles of fairness, open justice, individual liberty, Parliamentary sovereignty and Parliamentary accountability. These principles protect all our rights and freedoms, and today the Supreme Court has brought them to life once again. 

We will now watch to see if the Prime Minister makes a public statement that he will abide by his legal obligations – those made plain by today’s judgment and those under the law requiring him to seek a Brexit extension. 

Earlier this month we launched legal case against the Prime Minister following reports he intends to flout this law. Until the Prime Minister confirms he will act lawfully, our case will proceed, relying on the same fundamental principles that the Supreme Court invoked today.

Thank you for your support in these extraordinary times,

Martha Spurrier

Director

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Dear Larry,

We’re appealing for your help to ensure the Prime Minister complies with the law.

This is an extraordinary sentence to write, but we’re living in extraordinary times.

Boris Johnson has stated that he’s willing to ignore an Act of Parliament that requires the Government to either get a new Brexit deal approved by MPs before 19 October or ask the European Union for an extension.

But no one is above the law. If he breaks it, we’ll see him in court.

Never has it been more important for us to stand up to power – and we need your help to do this.

Liberty is neutral on the issue of Brexit and has no view on whether the UK should seek a deal or leave without one.

And this is not a Brexit case. This case is about protecting the very fabric of our legal system and constitutional order. That is what is at stake if the Prime Minister defies the “Benn Act”.

Since Liberty was founded in 1934, it has played the role of independent watchdog. We’re not affiliated with any political party and receive no government funding. Our role has always been to challenge unjust laws, policies and practices.

For 85 years we have held Governments of all colours and persuasions to account. This case continues that tradition.

It is simple: the UK Government, whoever it is made up of and whatever it is seeking to do, must always act lawfully.

Your money will support our case against the Government. If this case isn’t brought, your donation will ensure Liberty can continue to champion your rights whatever the future holds for UK politics.

Please donate whatever you can.

Thank you for your support

Martha Spurrier

Director

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Dear Larry,

This is it – on Friday we’re taking the Prime Minister to court.

The law is clear: if MPs haven’t approved a new Brexit deal by Saturday 19 October, the UK Government must ask the European Union for an extension.

But the Prime Minister has continually signalled his intention to ignore his obligations. His lawyers say he will comply with the Act of Parliament, but that he can also take action to frustrate it.

We warned Boris Johnson time and again that we would see him in court if he didn’t confirm the Government would obey the law. Liberty members and supporters have already donated more than £16,500 towards our legal challenge. Without your support this case could not go ahead. Thank you so much.

Now on Friday 18 October, the Court of Appeal will decide whether our case can go ahead and, if so, will hear it there and then.

This case shouldn’t be necessary. It brings us no joy. And it has nothing to do with Brexit. Put simply, the Government must always act lawfully. 

It’s never been more important for us to stand up to power and protect our constitutional order from this dangerous power grab.

We will of course keep you updated, and should you wish to contribute towards our case and help us reach £20,000, you can do so here. 

Thank you for your continued support in such extraordinary times.

Martha Spurrier
Director

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Dear Larry,

This election we need to vote like our rights depend on it. 

In six weeks’ time our fundamental rights will be on the ballot paper. There is everything to vote for.

Thank you for all the support that you give Liberty. We'd love to send you a copy of our manifesto, laying out the change we want to see after the election. Please order one today. 

In the UK today people are being fined, arrested and prosecuted for being homeless. People have been torn from their families and locked up without release dates.

Police are using facial recognition technology on the streets, legal aid has been decimated, and Parliament voted to scrap the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights after Brexit. 

In turbulent times, it’s easy to feel powerless. But we are not.

The upcoming General Election is a chance to change our society for the better.

Liberty’s manifesto is our promise to you that whoever wins the General Election we will be here to challenge injustice, defend freedom and fight to make the UK a fairer place for everyone.

This is a pivotal moment in our history. Together we have the power to change things for the better. Let’s use it.

Read our manifesto, make sure you register, and then vote like your rights depend on it.

Martha Spurrier

Liberty Director

PS. We have 5,000 copies of our manifesto to give away on a first come first served basis. Please order quickly to avoid disappointment!

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Dear Larry,

Claim your free Liberty election manifesto today. 

In five weeks’ time our fundamental rights will be on the ballot paper. There is everything to vote for.

Thank you so much for supporting Liberty. We'd love to send you a copy of our manifesto, laying out the change we want to see after the election. Please order one today. 

In turbulent times, it’s easy to feel powerless. But we are not.

The upcoming General Election is a chance to change our society for the better. From ending indefinite detention to stopping the criminalisation of homelessness, we set out our key demands on some of the most pressing human rights issues of our time.

Our manifesto is already proving popular and we don’t want you to miss out. It is our promise to you that whoever wins the General Election we will be here to challenge injustice, defend freedom and fight to make the UK a fairer place for everyone.

This is a pivotal moment in our history. Together we have the power to change things for the better. Let’s use it.

Read our manifesto, make sure you register, and then vote like your rights depend on it.

Martha Spurrier

Liberty Director

PS. We have 5,000 copies of our manifesto to give away on a first come first served basis. Lots of people have already ordered, so please do make sure you get yours before they run out.

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Dear Larry,

Election campaigns are full of promises hoping to entice your all-important vote, so it’s crucial proposals are properly examined so we know exactly what they mean.

This week the Conservative Party said it would change the Human Rights Act so it no longer applies to incidents that took place before October 2000.

It wishes to change the law to prevent former members of the Armed Forces from facing legal action – in particular those being investigated over alleged wrongdoing in the Northern Ireland conflict.

But prosecutions happen under criminal law, not human rights law, so the proposal won’t achieve that.

What this proposal will in fact do is have a devastating impact on the families of civilians and soldiers who have their lost loved ones.

In recent years we’ve used the Human Rights Act to get new inquests into the deaths of Privates Cheryl James and Sean Benton, who both died at Deepcut barracks in 1995. The families of the 96 people who lost their lives at Hillsborough also secured new inquests into their deaths thanks to the Human Rights Act. None of this would have been possible under these plans. 

And any change to the HRA risks opening the door to further tweaks or wholesale transformation, threatening all our rights.

As candidates vie for your vote, challenge them on what they will do to protect everyone’s fundamental rights and freedoms.

But this is just one of many pressing issues at stake in this election.

In the UK today people are being locked up without release dates, and police are using facial recognition technology on the streets. Legal aid has been decimated and local councils are criminalising homelessness.

The Liberty Manifesto lays out our key demands of everyone standing for election, and what we will strive towards regardless of who forms the next Government.

Claim your free copy today, share it with friends and family, and take your local candidates to task with it.

Together we have the power to change things for the better. Let’s use it.

Martha Spurrier

Liberty Director

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Dear Larry,

With three weeks to go until polling day, the General Election is just around the corner. This is our chance to change things for the better.

In the UK today people are being locked up without release dates, and police are using facial recognition technology on the streets. Legal aid has been decimated and local councils are criminalising homelessness. It doesn’t need to be this way.

Liberty has been standing up to power and making the UK a fairer, more equal place since 1934. Our manifesto is a blueprint for a better society. It contains our six key demands of everyone standing for election.

Order your free copy, share it far and wide, and take your local candidates to task with it. And put the accompanying poster in your window so your neighbours – and crucially any would-be MPs coming to your door – know you will be voting for human rights.

In turbulent times it’s easy to feel powerless. We are not.

Order your Liberty Manifesto, register, get yourself to the polling station and vote like your rights depend on it.

Best wishes,

Pippa Johnson

Development Director

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Dear Larry,

With just three weeks to go until polling day, General Election campaigning is well and truly underway. This is our chance to change things for the better.

With candidates vying for your vote, it’s vital you challenge them on the some of the most pressing human rights issues facing the UK today.

Thousands of people are torn away from their friends and families every year and locked up without release dates. The police are using discriminatory facial recognition technology on our streets. Local councils are criminalising homeless people. And legal aid has been decimated, reserving justice only for people who can afford it.

It doesn’t need to be this way.

Our quick and easy tool allows you to easily email all your local candidates and ask them directly how they plan to protect everyone’s rights and freedoms if elected.

Please contact them today. And be sure to let us know how they respond to you by emailing comms@libertyhumanrights.org.uk.

Together we have the power to build a better society. Let’s use it.

Thank you for your support

Martha Spurrier

Liberty Director

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Dear Larry,

Donate once, make twice the difference

Cuts to legal aid have left people all over the country without any form of legal support. Liberty’s legal advice service is a lifeline for anyone unable to find or afford a lawyer. And now every donation you’re able to make towards it during the Big Give Christmas Challenge will be doubled!

From noon on Tuesday 3 December, all donations made to the Civil Liberties Trust (our charitable arm) through TheBigGive.org.uk will be matched by four generous law firms* and the Reed Foundation for one whole week.

The decimation of legal aid has created a two-tier system where justice is reserved only for those who can afford it. 

But our Advice and Information service provides free, impartial human rights legal advice to tens of thousands of people every year, empowering them to take action if their own rights – or those of their loved ones and communities – are threatened.

Every pound you donate will help us to expand and improve our service. We need to raise £17,500 in just one week to hit our overall target of £35,000. Anything you can afford will make a huge difference to our work. We’ll be back in touch on Monday 3 December to let you know when the Big Give Christmas Challenge has launched so you don’t miss out on having your donation doubled with no extra cost to you.

Your support helps us keep fighting for a UK where everyone is treated fairly, with dignity and respect. Thank you.   

Best wishes,

Olivia Percival

Advice and Information Manager

* The law firms kindly supporting us are Clifford Chance, Reed Smith, Norton Rose Fulbright and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. 

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Dear Larry,

There are less than two weeks to go until the General Election – and far is more at stake than you might realise. 

CLAIM YOUR FREE 
LIBERTY MANIFESTO →

A recent investigation by the Sunday Times and Panorama has exposed an alleged cover-up of British soldiers’ involvement in the murder of children and torture and killing of civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The law demands – and victims deserve – proper and prompt investigations of all credible allegations. 

Alongside six other prominent human rights organisations, we’ve written to the leaders of each major party, calling on them to commit to an effective, independent inquiry into this disgraceful stain on the UK’s reputation as a global human rights leader. 

The General Election is our chance to change society for the better. The Liberty Manifesto lays out our key demands of everyone standing for election, and what we will strive towards regardless of who forms the next Government. Claim your free copy today. 

In the UK today people are being locked up without release dates, and police are using facial recognition technology on the streets. Legal aid has been decimated and local councils are criminalising homelessness. It doesn’t have to be this way.

Together we have the power to change things for the better. Let’s use it.

Pippa Johnson
Development Director

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Dear Larry,

Please donate to the Civil Liberties Trust now through the Big Give Christmas Challenge to have your gift doubled! 

Everyone should be able to protect their rights and stand up to power. But brutal cuts to legal aid have created a system where justice is reserved only for those who can afford it. 

Whether it’s supporting someone to make a complaint about the police, helping people protect their privacy rights or making sure a protest can go ahead, our legal advice service makes rights real for thousands of people every year. 

But we’re only able to provide this vital legal support thanks to generous donations.

For just one week, your donation will have double the impact thanks to four generous law firms* and the Reed Foundation. 

Any support you can give is greatly appreciated. Donate now to have your gift doubled at no extra cost to you, help us reach our target and make sure we can keep fighting for a UK where everyone is treated fairly, with dignity and respect.  

Best wishes,

Olivia Percival
Advice and Information Manager

* The law firms kindly supporting us are Clifford Chance, Reed Smith, Norton Rose Fulbright and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.  

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Dear Larry,

Your donation doubled: Help us reach our target 

I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has donated to us through the Big Give Christmas Challenge. 

We’ve raised an amazing £30,294, but we need your help to hit our target of £35,000. All funds we raise are supporting our vital free legal advice service.

Any donation you’re able to offer will make a huge difference to our ability to provide vital human rights legal advice to anyone who needs it.

Our Advice and Information service provides free, impartial human rights legal advice to tens of thousands of people every year, empowering them to take action if their rights – or those of their loved ones and communities – are threatened.

All donations made during the Christmas Challenge are doubled at no extra cost to you thanks to the support of four law firms* and the Reed Foundation.

If you have already donated, please accept our thanks for your generosity. Your support helps us keep fighting for a UK where everyone is treated fairly, with dignity and respect.  

Best Wishes,

Olivia Percival
Advice and Information Manager

* The law firms kindly supporting us are Clifford Chance, Reed Smith, Norton Rose Fulbright and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. 

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Dear Larry,

The General Election is our chance to vote for a better society – so it’s vital we know where the parties stand on important issues. We’ve analysed each of the major parties’ manifestos for you in line with our six key demands of whoever steps into No 10.

It’s important to remember a manifesto is just a snapshot of what a party wants to do in Government. There might be many more things they want to do that just didn’t make it onto the page. 

Similarly, just because something is in the manifesto doesn’t mean the party can’t be persuaded not to do it.

And there is still time to hold candidates to account.

You can use our quick and easy tool to email all your local candidates at once. You can use our template text or add your own to let them know how you want them to take action on pressing human rights issues.

You could also go to a hustings and put questions to your candidates in person. You can use Democracy Club’s Who Can I Vote For website to find out what events are taking place near you.

And you can order your free copy of the Liberty Manifesto which includes a poster for your windows at home.

But if you do nothing else, make sure you get to the polling station on Thursday 12 December and vote.

We have the power to change things for the better. Let’s use it.

Best wishes,

Clare Collier
Advocacy Director

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Dear Larry,

I imagine you’re still reflecting on the election results and what this means. It’s been exhausting and you probably just want a break and are looking forward to the holidays.

For Liberty, this is when our work really begins – and it is more vital than ever.
We’ve been holding Governments to account since 1934 and we won’t stop now. 

Thank you so much for your interest in our work. Please consider becoming a member of Liberty at this crucial time. 

You’ll be joining thousands of other people who want to make the UK a fairer place for everyone. Together we’ve been winning legal cases, influencing political and public opinion, and changing unjust laws for nearly a century. 

We’re now in for the fight of our lives. 

We’re facing an attack on the Human Rights Act, increased surveillance of the whole population and policing which targets minorities. The racist hostile environment and state harassment of anyone considered different will continue. 

And our very democracy is under threat with this Government that wants to put itself above the law. 

But we’re ready. 

In court, in Parliament, on the streets – we’re going to fight like our rights depend on it. 

Join us and let’s change society for the better. 

Martha Spurrier
Director

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Dear Larry,

Thank you for all the support you give to Liberty.

Since the General Election, hundreds more people have become Liberty members, joining us in the fight to protect our rights and freedoms.

We’ve been holding Governments to account since 1934, but we’re now in for the fight of our lives. 

We’re facing an attack on the Human Rights Act, increased surveillance, policing which targets minorities, and a continuation of the racist hostile environment. 

And our very democracy is under threat with this Government that wants to put itself above the law. 

But we’re ready.

Liberty and its members have been winning legal cases, influencing political and public opinion, and changing unjust laws for nearly a century. 

Please become a Liberty member today and join thousands of others who want to make the UK a fairer place for everyone. 

In court, in Parliament, on the streets – we’re going to fight like our rights depend on it. 

Join us and let’s change society for the better. 

Martha Spurrier
Director

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Dear Larry,

We now have a new Government and very soon they’ll start putting their manifesto pledges into action – which include ‘updating’ the Human Rights Act. 

Given the Conservative Party’s recent history of attempting to scrap the Act, editing it can only mean one thing: some rights for some people some of the time.

For 20 years, the Human Rights Act has been used by ordinary people – soldiers, people in care, journalists, disabled people, workers, children – to defend their rights and hold the powerful to account.

It’s protected our right to protest and pray, to think what we like and say what we think, and to keep our private lives private.  It’s forced the police to do a better job investigating crime and helped people like the Hillsborough families uncover the truth and fight for justice.

Its protections apply to all of us, all of the time. They are fundamental. Any revision of any of the rights in the Act is unthinkable and must be resisted.

It’s never been more vital to know and celebrate your rights. This is why we’re giving away our pocket-sized guide to the Human Rights Act.

Know your rights: stand up to power.

Best wishes,

Martha Spurrier

Director

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Dear Larry,

Today we learned that the Government plans to block the Human Rights Act from applying to incidents that took place before 2000.

This is a threat to all of us. 

This dangerously misguided plan would have prevented the Hillsborough families from uncovering the truth and fighting for justice. 

And once the Act is edited for one purpose, it’s clear where it’s headed: some rights for some people some of the time.

It’s never been more vital to know and celebrate your rights. This is why we’re giving away our pocket-sized guide to the Human Rights Act.

For 20 years, the Human Rights Act has been used by ordinary people – soldiers, people in care, journalists, disabled people, workers, children – to defend their rights and hold the powerful to account.

It’s protected our right to protest and pray, to think what we like and say what we think, and to keep our private lives private.  It’s forced the police to do a better job investigating crime and helped people like the Hillsborough families uncover the truth and fight for justice.

Its protections apply to all of us, all of the time. They are fundamental. Any revision of any of the rights in the Act is unthinkable and must be resisted.

It’s never been more vital to know and celebrate your rights. This is why we’re giving away our pocket-sized guide to the Human Rights Act.

Know your rights: stand up to power.

Best wishes,

Martha Spurrier

Director

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Dear Larry,

Happy New Year!

If you’re struggling for resolutions, you can’t go wrong becoming a member of Liberty.

For 85 years Liberty members have been making the UK a fairer, more equal place for everyone – and we’re not stopping in 2020. 

Join Liberty today and help us stop the Government’s dangerously misguided plan to block the Human Rights Act from applying to incidents which occurred before 2000 – a proposal which would have prevented the Hillsborough families from finding the truth and seeking justice. 

We’re also heading back to court in the first ever case against police use of facial recognition technology on our streets. This could be the year we ban the privacy-abusing tech from publicly accessible places.

Our landmark legal challenge to a Public Spaces Protection Order which criminalises homelessness will be in front of a judge for the first time. A win could signal the end of cruel and counterproductive PSPOs targeting some of society’s most vulnerable people. 

And we will continue dismantling the racist hostile environment piece by piece.
We don’t expect it to be easy, but Liberty has never shied away from confronting abuse of power wherever we find it. Join us and together we can change society for the better. 

With very best wishes for the new year,

Martha Spurrier
Director

PS. If you're already a member, please contact us on membership@libertyhumanrights.org.uk to let us know. Ocassionally people that we have multiple email addreses for receive these requests in error. 

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Dear Larry,

Help shape Liberty’s work 

As one of the UK’s leading human rights organisations, Liberty’s work is perhaps more important than ever, so it’s vital we’re focusing on the issues that will really change society for the better. This is where you come in. 

We’re a membership organisation, so we’re accountable to our thousands of members who elect our Policy Council. The Policy Council drives the direction of our work and shapes the positions we take. Each year, 15 places are up for election. If you fancy helping steer our agenda, please join Liberty and stand for election!

“I have had the opportunity to work with a passionate group of individuals, and to help set the policy direction for one of the most impactful human rights organisations in the country. We have discussed issues as varied as mental health, Brexit, the Human Rights Act, data protection… It is one of the greatest privileges and I would encourage anyone who’s thinking about standing to just go for it” Shameem Ahmad, Policy Council member.

To become a candidate for Liberty’s Policy Council, you must be a member by 4 January 2020. You don’t have to be a lawyer, policy specialist or campaigner – just have a willingness to engage in the most important human rights discussions of the day.

We would particularly welcome people of colour to stand.

So if you – or anyone you know – would like to help drive Liberty’s work in 2020, please become a member by 4 January and stand in our Policy Council election.

Best wishes

Andrew Taylor

Development Manager

PS. Once you have joined, we’ll send you instructions on how to stand for election in the new year.

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Dear Larry,

The Government is considering new police powers that will criminalise Gypsy and Traveller communities and could see them have their homes confiscated. You can stop these plans in their tracks.

The Government is looking for feedback on proposals to criminalise trespassing and ‘unauthorised encampments’ – plans which mean Gypsies and Travellers could face imprisonment for their way of life.  

Gypsy and Traveller communities are already some of the most persecuted in the UK. Criminalising trespass would make this far worse and act as justification for the discrimination they face.

The plans also give police powers to ban communities from returning to a specific area for a year – disrupting access to education and healthcare – and to seize property, meaning they could take away Gypsy and Traveller homes. 

The police have said they don’t want these powers and the consultation even acknowledges that the real problem is the lack of authorised sites. 

But instead of solving this issue, the Government is treating an entire community with contempt. 

And the proposals are framed so broadly that it could also scoop up peaceful protests, for instance environmental protests where participants camp out.

The right to protest is a fundamental right and essential to our democracy – another reason trespass must not be criminalised.

You can use our template to quickly and easily respond to the consultation and make sure these sinister plans never see the light of day. 

Or if you are a member of the Gypsy and Traveller community, you can respond to the conulsulation via Friends, Families and Travellers which is providing specific guidance.  

Please make your voice heard today.

Thank you for your support

Martha Spurrier
Director

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Dear Larry,

We’re halfway through January and many gym memberships will be sitting unused.

But it’s not too late to make a resolution and sign up for a membership of another kind. 

For 85 years Liberty members have been making the UK a fairer, more equal place for everyone – and we’re not stopping in 2020

Join Liberty today and help us stop the Government’s dangerously misguided plan to block the Human Rights Act from applying to incidents which occurred before 2000 – a proposal which would have prevented the Hillsborough families from finding the truth and seeking justice. 

We’re also heading back to court in the first ever case against police use of facial recognition technology on our streets. This could be the year we ban the privacy-abusing tech from publicly accessible places.

Our landmark legal challenge to a Public Spaces Protection Order which criminalises homelessness will be in front of a judge for the first time. A win could signal the end of cruel and counterproductive PSPOs targeting some of society’s most vulnerable people. 

And we will continue dismantling the racist hostile environment piece by piece.

We don’t expect it to be easy, but Liberty has never shied away from confronting abuse of power wherever we find it. Join us and together we can change society for the better. 

I hope the new year is treating you well and I look forward to everything we will achieve together.

Martha Spurrier
Director

PS. If you're already a member, please contact us on membership@libertyhumanrights.org.uk to let us know. Occasionally people that we have multiple email addresses for receive these requests in error. 

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Dear Larry,

The UK’s largest police force is rolling out dangerous and oppressive facial recognition surveillance technology next month. More forces will follow unless we stop it now.

The Metropolitan Police announced plans today to track and monitor anyone in the capital. 

Facial recognition cameras scan everyone within range and make biometric maps of our faces – more like fingerprints than photographs – in a shocking violation of our privacy rights.

These are then compared to images on secretive police watchlists which can be of any of us whether we’re suspected of crime or not. The images can be sourced from anywhere – including our social media accounts. 

Aside from its Orwellian nature, this tech is particularly bad news if you’re a woman or a person of colour. 

It’s been known to misidentify these groups, meaning you’re more likely to be stopped, questioned and searched by the police if you’re a woman or if you’re BAME. And when the Met ‘trialled’ the tech, it often chose to use it in locations known to have high BAME or working-class populations, embedding discriminatory approaches to policing.

Police use of facial recognition in public must be banned now.

Don’t let this oppressive tech become normal. It’s not.  

An independent review of the Met’s trial use of this tech found it failed to consider the human rights impact and that its use was unlikely to pass the key legal test of being “necessary in a democratic society”.

But it’s rolling out the tech anyway.

Join the fight against facial recognition technology. Sign the petition to ban police use of facial recognition tech in public.

Thank you for your support.

Martha Spurrier
Director

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Dear Larry,

The Government plans to block the Human Rights Act from applying to incidents that took place before 2000. This is a threat to all of us. 

This dangerously misguided plan would have prevented the Hillsborough families from uncovering the truth and fighting for justice. 

And once the Act is edited for one purpose, it’s clear where it’s headed: some rights for some people some of the time.

It’s never been more vital to know and celebrate your rights. This is why we’re giving away our pocket-sized guide to the Human Rights Act.

For 20 years, the Human Rights Act has been used by ordinary people – soldiers, people in care, journalists, disabled people, workers, children – to defend their rights and hold the powerful to account.

It’s protected our right to protest and pray, to think what we like and say what we think, and to keep our private lives private.  It’s forced the police to do a better job investigating crime and helped people like the Hillsborough families uncover the truth and fight for justice.

Its protections apply to all of us, all of the time. They are fundamental. Any revision of any of the rights in the Act is unthinkable and must be resisted.

It’s never been more vital to know and celebrate your rights. This is why we’re giving away our pocket-sized guide to the Human Rights Act.

Know your rights. Stand up to power.

Best wishes,

Martha Spurrier
Director

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Dear Larry,

Last Friday, the UK’s largest police force announced it will start rolling out dangerous and oppressive facial recognition surveillance technology in the next few weeks.

More forces will follow unless we stop it now.

Nearly 26,000 people have signed our petition calling for the tech to be banned from public places – and more than 6,000 since the Metropolitan Police’s announcement.
Please add your name and help us get facial recognition off our streets for good.

Facial recognition cameras scan everyone within range and make biometric maps of our faces – more like fingerprints than photographs – in a shocking violation of our privacy rights.

These are then compared to images on secretive watchlists which can be of any of us whether we’re suspected of crime or not, and be sourced from anywhere – including our social media accounts. 

The tech is particularly bad news if you’re a woman or a person of colour, because you’re more likely to be misidentified by it and consequently stopped, questioned and searched by police. And the Met has a history of choosing to use it in locations known to have high BAME populations, embedding discriminatory approaches to policing.

Police use of facial recognition in public must be banned now.

Don’t let this oppressive tech become normal. It’s not.  

An independent review of the Met’s trial use of this tech found it failed to consider the human rights impact and that its use was unlikely to pass the key legal test of being “necessary in a democratic society”.

But it’s rolling out the tech anyway.

Join the fight against facial recognition technology. Sign the petition to ban police use of facial recognition tech in public.

Thank you for your support.

Martha Spurrier
Director

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Dear Larry,

Imagine the way you, your family and your friends live your lives suddenly becoming illegal. Imagine facing imprisonment for following centuries-old traditions. Imagine if the police could take your home away. 

It should be unthinkable, but it’s exactly what will happen to Gypsy and Traveller communities in the UK if we don’t act now. 

The Government is looking for feedback on proposals to criminalise trespassing and ‘unauthorised encampments’ – plans which threaten Gypsies’ and Travellers’ way of life and will provide justification for the persecution and discrimination they face.  

The plans also give police powers to ban communities from returning to a specific area for a year – disrupting access to education and healthcare – and to seize property, meaning they could confiscate Gypsy and Traveller homes, leaving them at risk of homelessness and destitution. 

The police have said they don’t want these powers and the consultation even acknowledges that the real problem is the lack of authorised sites. But instead of solving this issue, the Government is treating an entire community with contempt. 

And the proposals are framed so broadly that it could also scoop up peaceful protests, for instance environmental protests where participants camp out.

The right to protest is a fundamental right and essential to our democracy – another reason trespass must not be criminalised.

There are just two weeks left to respond to the consultation. You can use our prepared response to reply to the Government quickly and easily make sure these sinister plans never see the light of day. 

Or if you are a member of the Gypsy and Traveller community, Friends Families and Travellers is providing specific guidance and assistance with responding to the consultation.  

Please make your voice heard today.

Thank you for your support

Martha Spurrier
Director

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Dear Larry,

We’re living through an unprecedented pandemic: a human rights response is vital to keeping us safe. From ensuring sick people are treated with dignity to supporting undocumented migrants to access healthcare – the values of fairness, equality and dignity must underpin the Government response. Some Governments are reaching for intrusive surveillance and punitive criminal powers. This is not the answer. 

We are demanding that the UK Government use all its power to build resilience, support communities and protect vulnerable people. In times like these, those who are already marginalised and disadvantaged will suffer most – homeless people, single income families, contract workers, migrants, elderly people and those with underlying chronic conditions. These people must be supported or they will face grave human rights violations. 

Here at Liberty we’re taking the necessary precautions to protect our staff and their loved ones from coronavirus (COVID-19). Today we’ve closed our office and are putting contingencies in place to support staff to work from home. 

We are doing everything we can to make sure our vital work is not disrupted. Liberty was founded in 1934 and our work has continued through peace, war, recession and upheaval. Today is no different – we will keep fighting for everyone’s rights and holding power to account. At times like these it’s more important than ever for us to make sure the Government puts in place measures to support everyone to stay safe and well without resorting to disproportionate infringements on our freedom. 

We will all play our part in this crisis. As well as demanding that the Government offers a human rights based response, we will all be pulling together to support our families, friends, neighbours and communities. As Eleanor Roosevelt once said, human rights begin in small places, close to home.

Wishing you and your loved ones good health,

Martha Spurrier
Director

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Dear Larry,

This week the Government announced a “review” of our Human Rights Act. This may sound innocuous enough, but it is part of a concerted attack on our ability to stand up to power.

For years, ordinary people have been able to enforce their rights and challenge governments and public bodies when they get it wrong. But the plans announced this week and over the past six months are focused on limiting our ability to do this. 

Today, on Human Rights Day, we are demanding the laws and processes that enable us to hold the powerful to account are protected for the good of our democracy. 

Our laws and legal processes help people stand up to power and challenge governments and public authorities when they get it wrong. 

That means legal processes like ‘judicial review’, which gives ordinary people the ability to challenge governments and public bodies in court if they don’t uphold their duties. For instance, it’s thanks to a judicial review case that the Ministry of Defence now owes soldiers a duty of care no matter where in the world they are stationed. 

And it also means laws like the Human Rights Act. Where rights are breached, every one of us can use the Human Rights Act to seek justice in British courts. It is the Human Rights Act that brings our rights to life. 

But the Government is trying to weaken these important mechanisms. As well as the panel which will look at changing how our Human Rights Act functions, a separate board is expected to report back soon on how judicial review could be limited. 

Being able to challenge governments and other public bodies is at the heart of our democracy. Restricting access to justice undermines values we all hold dear – fairness, accountability and the rule of law. 

And if we are unable to enforce our rights, they will become meaningless.

For society to be fair and just, we must strengthen – not limit – judicial review, and we must keep the Human Rights Act intact and accessible to all. 

Add your voice to this call today.

Thank you for your support.

Gracie Bradley

Interim Director

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Dear Larry,

As you may have seen from our recent job adverts, Liberty has been looking for an Interim Director as I’ll be taking parental leave this autumn.

After a rigorous recruitment process, I’m delighted to announce that Gracie Bradley has been appointed for this interim period and she will be stepping up as Director in October when I go on leave for nine months. 

I’m in the fortunate position of knowing Gracie very well. For the past three years she has been our Policy and Campaigns Manager and we’ve worked together closely on developing the organisation’s strategy. 

Being the Director of Liberty is a sought-after role and we had many brilliant applications and a very competitive field. In every step of the process – and throughout her career at Liberty - Gracie has demonstrated she not only has the experience, intelligence, vision and clarity of thought to lead the organisation, she is also passionate about making the UK a place where everyone is treated fairly, with dignity and respect. 

At such a crucial time in our history, we couldn’t have a better leader to hold the watch on our civil liberties and I’m excited to see where she takes the organisation while I’m away. Please join me in congratulating her on this appointment and welcoming her to the role.  
 
Martha Spurrier,
Director

PS – If you haven’t done so, please sign up to Liberty’s latest campaign to repeal the Coronavirus Act. Times of crisis are ripe for watering down human rights. When the pandemic hit, the Government introduced overbearing legislation – the Coronavirus Act – which gives the state extraordinary powers to restrict our civil liberties. 

We’re campaigning to get this dangerous legislation off our statute books but we have less than two months before the Government’s deadline to review the act. 

Sign the petition to ask Government to get rid of the Coronavirus Act and focus on a response to the pandemic that protects our rights and freedoms.

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Dear Larry,

This week, we’ve been in court challenging South Wales Police’s ongoing use of facial recognition technology in public.

Our client, Ed Bridges, has been scanned by police facial recognition cameras twice – once when Christmas shopping, and again at a peaceful protest. The police’s use of the tech is a major violations of Ed’s and thousands of other people’s privacy.

South Wales police is at the forefront, but other forces – including London’s Metropolitan Police – and private companies are also using it.

The case is a crucial opportunity to stem the tide and highlight why this dangerous and oppressive tech must ultimately be banned. 

Please help in our fight against facial recognition by signing our petition today. 

Facial recognition cameras scan everyone within range without their knowledge or consent and compare the unique points of their faces to images on secretive watch lists. 

We know from documents unearthed by Ed’s case that watch list images can be of anyone at all and come from anywhere – including our social media accounts.
And it’s particularly bad news if you’re a woman or a person of colour, because you’re more likely to be misidentified by it and stopped, questioned and searched by the police. 

South Wales Police has used the tech on almost 70 occasions, scanning thousands of people’s faces and snatching their unique biometric data at protests, football and rugby matches, concerts, busy shopping streets and the seaside. Really whenever they feel like it.

Last year the High Court said while the tech does affect our human rights, the force’s use of it in public wasn’t unlawful. We disagree, so we’re heading to the Court of Appeal tomorrow. 

In granting us permission to appeal, Lord Justice Singh said our arguments have a real chance of success and there is a compelling reason for such important issues to be heard.

We’ve only been able to continue this crucial case thanks to generous donations from the public. If you’re able to, please donate to support it. 

Thank you for your continued support.

Martha Spurrier
Director

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Dear Larry,

JOIN LIBERTY FROM £1 PER MONTH

We’re living through extraordinary and anxious times. At Liberty we’ve been working hard to keep everyone informed of their rights during this crisis.  

Liberty has been safeguarding rights and freedoms for more than 85 years. We’re continuing this vital work during this pandemic, but we need your help. Join Liberty today for just £1 per month. Due to the exceptional nature of this crisis, our reduced rate is now available to everyone. 

Please join for however much you can afford.

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Dear Larry,

We won! Today the Court of Appeal has said that South Wales Police’s use of facial recognition technology in public is unlawful.

The Court’s ruling will have major implications for police forces across the country and is a crucial step in our mission to get the privacy-abusing, discriminatory tech banned.

A world first

Our case with Ed Bridges is the world’s first legal challenge to police use of facial recognition. 

Ed was scanned by the tech – which ‘maps’ the faces of everyone in range of special cameras and ‘matches’ them to images on secretive watch lists. This happened while he was Christmas shopping, and again at a peaceful protest. 

Ed argued that snatching his personal biometric data (the unique measurements of his face) without his knowledge or consent violated his right to privacy. He also raised that the tech is discriminatory – it is known to misidentify people of colour, meaning they are more likely to be stopped by the police – and its use breaches data protection laws.

The Court agreed with our case, stating that it does indeed breach privacy rights, data protection laws and equality laws and South Wales Police must immediately halt its use of live facial recognition in public.

Now ban it

This is a major victory, but we can’t stop here. 

There has been much talk of Parliament creating laws to govern facial recognition’s use, but this can’t solve the privacy concerns or correct the tech’s in-built discrimination.

The only way to mend these problems is to ban it altogether. 

Several US cities have recognised this and have done just that. It’s time for us to follow.

Almost 50,000 people have already signed our petition calling for a ban. Sign it today and share it with friends and family.

Together we will get facial recognition off our streets.

Thank you for your support.

Martha Spurrier
Director

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Dear Larry,

When our elected MPs return to work in September, they must scrap the Coronavirus Act.

Faced with a public health emergency, the Government opted for a criminal justice response, prioritised immigration control over saving lives, and rushed through an

Act of Parliament that strips away our rights.  

But with confusing messages surrounding the new laws and regulations, how much do you actually know about Government’s pandemic response? Take our quick quiz to find out.

The Coronavirus Act raced through Parliament in just one day, ushering in the greatest limitation on liberty in a generation with barely any scrutiny. 

As MPs return in September, they will vote whether or not to keep it.

We’re calling on them to completely scrap the Act and force the Government to focus instead on a response to the crisis that protects everyone’s human rights and keeps civil liberties intact. Because we can do better.

Thank you for your continued support.

Andrew Taylor-Dawson

Development Manager

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Dear Larry,

Two days left to have your donation to Liberty doubled at no extra cost to you!

Since the Big Give Christmas Challenge launched on Tuesday, we’ve had over £34,000 donated, which is amazing.

Thank you to everyone who has already donated. We now need to raise just under £6,000 in the next 48 hours to hit our target.

You have until 12pm on Tuesday 8 December to make a donation towards our Advice and Information service through the Big Give Christmas Challenge and have your gift doubled at no extra cost to you.

Liberty’s legal advice service is a lifeline for anyone unable to find or afford a lawyer, anyone trying to exercise their fundamental right to protest, and anyone confused by ever-changing laws and regulations. 

The team provides free, impartial human rights legal advice to thousands of people every year, empowering them to take action if their own rights – or those of their loved ones and communities – are threatened.

If you haven’t already, please consider making a donation today.

This year our legal advisors have already responded to more than 1,300 individual requests for help. The team’s online coronavirus hub has been accessed more than 120,000 times so far. And we have distributed 24,000 information cards to protesters, so they know their rights during the pandemic.

And with a year of uncertainty ahead as the Government tries to water down our rights, effectively ban protest and dodge accountability for its actions, it’s never been more important that we are all able to stand up to power. 

Donate now to have your gift doubled at no extra cost to you. Your support helps us keep fighting for a UK where everyone is treated fairly, with dignity and respect. Thank you.   

Best wishes,

Olivia Percival

* Donations will be doubled thanks to the generosity of The Human Rights Fund and three law firms: Norton Rose Fulbright, Clifford Chance and Reed Smith.  

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Dear Larry,

This week, despite growing public dissent the Coronavirus Act was renewed and remains on the statue books for another six months.

Late in the day, the Government struck a deal with MPs who were planning to scrap the Act.

They promise to consult Parliament over major lockdown regulations in future. While this is welcome, it’s the bare minimum – it’s how a parliamentary democracy is supposed to work.

Renewing the Coronavirus Act is a dark moment for human rights, but we assure you that this fight isn’t over.

And momentum is building.

Thanks to our members and supporters’ fantastic work more than 40,000 people have so far signed Liberty’s petition to bin the Act.

More than 20,000 people used our tool to write to their MPs to demand it be scrapped. Thank you for everything you have put into this campaign.

The Act will be up for renewal in six months. We have built a movement against it, and we must continue.

From the outset of the pandemic, Liberty has kept watch on what the Government is doing and provided tools to empower everyone to defend their rights. This work also continues.

Our Advice and Information team is busy scrutinising the developing rules to provide the clear guidance we need to understand them.

Our journalists continue to investigate how the Government’s response is affecting already marginalised communities and give a voice to the voiceless in this crisis.
Our lawyers are reviewing the legality of the Government’s actions and stand ready to hold it to account.

Our campaigners are still lobbying MPs to make the case for change.

Our work is more vital than ever. Thank you for your continued support.

Best wishes,

Martha Spurrier

Director

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Dear Larry,

This week I wrote to you about why the Coronavirus Act must be scrapped.

Today, I’m writing to you with further evidence of why this legislation must not be allowed to remain in place – and this evidence comes from your fellow Liberty members. 

One of the cruellest parts of the Coronavirus Act is that it allowed councils to strip back social care. 

Just as the pandemic was taking hold, when people were afraid and facing months of isolation and uncertainty, the Government passed legislation which enabled councils to suspend their social care duties.

We asked members who rely on social care how they were affected. 
We received some distressing and shocking responses.

One Liberty member, who is 92 and lost his wife just before lockdown, said: “I am feeling very isolated and very lonely. I have tried to obtain as much help as possible but these are voluntary services that are short of funding. There is no care for the elderly.”

Sign the petition calling for the Coronavirus Act to be scrapped and force the Government to create a response to this pandemic in a way that protects all of our human rights. 

Another member, who lives alone and has Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, depression and agoraphobia, said: “I don’t want to die but I don’t feel safe. I am scared. I want to tell my story so that other people may not have to go through the same as I am going through.”

With a second wave of the pandemic expected in the coming months, we cannot allow this Government to abandon those who rely on social care again. 
We need a more caring response to this pandemic – one that is focused on public health. 

What the Coronavirus Act does is strip care away. It leaves people vulnerable to discrimination and abuse. The Government has wrongly prioritised criminal justice. It has watered down our human rights – dehumanising some of the most marginalised in our society.

Don’t let them do it again. Make your voice heard – sign the petition, get the Coronavirus Act scrapped and force the Government to respond to this pandemic in a way that protects people like our members whose stories I have shared with you today.

Best wishes, 

Martha Spurrier

Director

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Dear Larry,

The Government plans to block the Human Rights Act from applying to incidents that took place before 2000. This is a threat to all of us. 

This dangerously misguided plan would have prevented the Hillsborough families from uncovering the truth and fighting for justice. 

And once the Act is edited for one purpose, it’s clear where it’s headed: some rights for some people some of the time.

It’s never been more vital to know and celebrate your rights. This is why we’re giving away our pocket-sized guide to the Human Rights Act.

For 20 years, the Human Rights Act has been used by ordinary people – soldiers, people in care, journalists, disabled people, workers, children – to defend their rights and hold the powerful to account.

It’s protected our right to protest and pray, to think what we like and say what we think, and to keep our private lives private. It’s forced the police to do a better job investigating crime and helped people like the Hillsborough families uncover the truth and fight for justice.

Its protections apply to all of us, all of the time. They are fundamental. Any revision of any of the rights in the Act is unthinkable and must be resisted.

It’s never been more vital to know and celebrate your rights. This is why we’re giving away our pocket-sized guide to the Human Rights Act.

Know your rights. Stand up to power.

Best wishes,

Martha Spurrier
Director

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Dear Larry,

Some local councils have cut back care services in the middle of this public health emergency – leaving people without basic support.

The Government allowed these vital services to be stripped away in preparation for this pandemic. 

Why should people who need social care be forced to carry another burden during a national health crisis? 

This is a step too far.

If this is happening in your area, to you or someone you know, please get in touch with Liberty today. Any information you can provide will help us make sure the Government and councils protect everyone’s rights at this crucial time.

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Dear Larry,

Join Liberty from £1 per month 

Lockdown has eased in most of England – but our rights and freedoms are still at risk. 

With the support of people like you, we’ve campaigned protect our human rights during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Government passed legislation – the Coronavirus Act – creating the most drastic reimagining of our civil liberties ever seen.

The Act was rushed through Parliament in just one day. But thanks to Liberty and others, MPs can vote on whether to keep the Act or repeal it entirely. 

The Government will be reluctant to do this. But we must use this review as an opportunity to show how poor the Government’s response has been and why the Act must be repealed.

Liberty is only as strong as its membership. The more people that are behind us and our fight to protect our basic rights, the greater our impact can be. 

That’s why we’re asking you to join Liberty and help us fight for the repeal of the Coronavirus Act.

Since 1934 Liberty has been standing up to power. Your support will make our voice louder at this crucial time. 

Here are some facts about the Coronavirus Act and why it must be repealed:

• It gives the police broad new powers to detain anyone who could be infectious. But the Crown Prosecution Service has said that every single charge made under the Act has been wrong. 
• Our investigative journalism unit, Liberty Investigates, found that under regulations accompanying the Act, people of colour are 54 per cent more likely to be fined than white people. 
• It makes it legal for local councils to strip back social care. At least seven councils stopped providing even the most basic care services for disabled people in their areas.
• It threatens our right to protest.
• It failed to protect the most marginalised and the hostile environment has remained operational, even in the pandemic. 
• It allows the Government to suspend some elections. 

Whether challenging privacy invading facial recognition technology, fighting for the end of the racist hostile environment or pushing for the repeal of the Coronavirus Act, Liberty is the forefront of the most pressing campaigns to defend rights and freedoms in the UK today. 

We’ve opened up our concessionary rate of £1 per month to everybody to make Liberty membership as accessible as possible during the pandemic. 

I hope you feel able to come together with us to fight for our rights at this crucial time. 

Stay safe and stay well.

Martha Spurrier

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Dear Larry,

The coronavirus crisis has laid bare many inequalities in our society – and the inhumanity of Government policies.

The Government’s racist hostile environment is one such example. And we need change now. 

Imagine being too afraid to access healthcare during a pandemic.

Imagine your children being denied free school meals because of where you were born. 

Imagine being left on the streets and refused shelter during a public health emergency because of your nationality.

Thousands of people in the UK don’t have to imagine this. It’s their reality. But you can demand change. 

Parliament is now debating new immigration laws. 

This means we have a unique chance to end the hostile environment once and for all. 

Will you help us make it happen? 

Email your MP to replace the hostile environment with a new system based on dignity and respect

The hostile environment is a raft of policies meant to make life in the UK as unbearable as possible for migrants. The Prime Minister recently recoiled at the cruelty of the system when he admitted he didn’t know about one of the central pillars of the hostile environment and how it impacts people.

And yet even in the middle of this pandemic, this country’s current immigration policy is taking priority over human life.

If we don’t end it now, after Brexit three million more people will suddenly be affected and might find themselves detained or deported.

This is Parliament’s chance to prove it has learned the lessons of the Windrush Scandal and redesign the immigration system with humanity, dignity and respect at its core.

Use our quick and easy tool to email your MP today. It takes just a couple of minutes.

Thank you for your support.

Stay safe and stay healthy.
 

Martha Spurrier

Director

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Dear Larry,

Human rights are never more fragile than in times of crisis. At the start of this pandemic, the Government introduced legislation which watered down the rights of people in Britain. 

They created the Coronavirus Act – a law we are fighting to repeal because it contains powers which are so broad they are dangerous. For example, it allows police to detain practically anyone, strips away disabled people’s rights and limits protest. 

At times like this it’s vital we all know, cherish and fight for our rights. 

This autumn marks the 20th anniversary of the Human Rights Act coming into force. Since 2000, this incredible Act of Parliament has protected all of us.  Soldiers, people in care, journalists, LGBT+ people, disabled people, workers, children. It enables us to hold the powerful to account when they abuse our rights.

A whole generation has grown up safe in the knowledge that their rights are enshrined in law by the Human Rights Act.

Now, with the future of our rights in jeopardy, it’s even more important that we cherish the Human Rights Act and celebrate the justice it’s made possible.

That’s why we’re giving away our popular pocket-sized guide to your fundamental rights. 

Get the guide, learn about your rights and continue to stand up to power.  

Thank you for your support.

Gracie Bradley
Interim Director

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Dear Larry,

On Monday we launched our £15,000 Crowdfunder appeal so that we can keep providing free human rights legal advice to anyone who needs it during the pandemic. 

The great news is that more than 250 people have responded, giving in excess of £6,000 so far. This gets us on the way to temporarily increasing our staffing to meet the rise in demand, providing essential training for advisers and doing vital outreach work with groups most affected. 

We now need your help to get us to our target. 

A donation at any level you can afford will help us strengthen our invaluable Advice and Information service at a time when it is both more challenged and more needed than ever. 

We’ve been working flat out during the pandemic to provide urgent, accurate legal advice. And our regularly updated Coronavirus Advice and Information Hub has been viewed more than 120,000 times, demonstrating how vital this service is.

We’ve produced tailored advice for protesters and homeless people so they know their rights. And we’re still providing bespoke legal advice to members of the public.  

We’ve been blown away by the amazing response we’ve had already, but your donation will help us get that bit closer to our target. 

If you have already donated, I would like to say a huge thank you and make one small request: it would be great if you could share our page with friends and family who might be interested in supporting the Crowdfunder.

Best wishes,

Olivia Percival 
Advice and Information Manager

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Dear Larry,

JOIN LIBERTY FROM £1 PER MONTH

The coronavirus crisis has changed our lives and we’re all making sacrifices. Extraordinary measures are needed in extraordinary times, but we can’t afford to let our hard-won rights slip away.

Liberty is fighting to protect everyone’s rights and freedoms during the pandemic, but we need your help – and our reduced membership rate of £1 per month is now available to everyone. 

Please join for however much you can afford.

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Dear Larry,

Last week Liberty and campaigner Ed Bridges won the world’s first legal case against police use of facial recognition. 

The Court of Appeal said South Wales Police’s use of the tech in public is unlawful because it violates our right to privacy and breaks data protection and equality laws. 

It’s a tremendous victory, but now we need to go even further. 
Join Liberty today, and let’s get the privacy-abusing, discriminatory tech off our streets for good.

Liberty has been standing up to power since 1934. But we’re only as strong as our members. 

From fighting against fascism, mass surveillance and racist immigration policies, to championing safe workplaces, equal marriage, and trans rights, Liberty members have challenged injustice and fought to make the UK a fairer place for everyone for almost a century.

They are at the cutting edge of human rights in the UK. And as our first president, EM Forster, said: it is “the fight that is never done”.

Police facial recognition that snatches everyone’s data without consent and misidentifies black people, meaning they are more likely to be stopped by police, makes a mockery of our rights. 

After our court win, we have it on the ropes. Now it’s time for the final blow – but we need your help.

Join Liberty today and let’s change society for the better. 

With best wishes

Martha Spurrier
Director

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{salutation~Default salutation Supporters}

MPs returned to work this week – well, by video link at least – and the message to our elected representatives couldn’t be clearer: scrap the Coronavirus Act.

The Act was rushed through Parliament in just one day, creating radical new policing, border control and data collection powers, and watering down fundamental human rights protections – hitting some of the most marginalised people hardest.

And the public has noticed. Today we’ve released damning research with nfpSynergy that shows the majority of people are concerned about key parts of the Government’s pandemic response and want a strategy that protects human rights.

• More than three quarters (76 per cent) of respondents want their human rights protected during a national crisis.
• 73 per cent are concerned about homeless people being fined during lockdown. Many rough sleepers received fines for being outside.
• Two thirds (66 per cent) believe everyone should have access to state support during a pandemic – which contrasts with the Government’s response that cut off support for some people, even at the height of the outbreak.
• Nearly two thirds (64 per cent) are concerned about Government data collection.
• Almost three fifths (58 per cent) were concerned about the “heavy-handed” policing of lockdown.
• Less than two in five (38 per cent) trust the Government and private companies with their medical data.

The Government has opted for a criminal justice response to a public health emergency. It has prioritised immigration policy over saving lives. And it has abandoned already marginalised communities.

We all want a new direction. This starts with getting rid of the Coronavirus Act.
Parliament has until Saturday 3 October to decide whether to keep it or scrap it. Sign and share our petition calling on MPs to repeal this dangerous Act today.

Thank you for your support. Stay safe and stay well.

Martha Spurrier
Director

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Dear Larry,

This weekend the lockdown is easing in most of England. 

But while the end might appear to be in sight, the lockdown of our rights and freedoms has no firm time limit.

Exactly 100 days ago, the Government passed legislation – the Coronavirus Act – that was the most drastic reimagining of our civil liberties ever seen.

Since the start of the coronavirus outbreak people everywhere have shown they are willing to adapt to protect one another. 

Liberty has always supported proportionate action to protect lives. But the Coronavirus Act has failed to uphold people’s rights while leaving the most marginalised worst affected.

This law harms human rights and puts our civil liberties in danger because the Act has no firm end date. 

When this pandemic passes this law will still be on the statute books and some of its powers can be triggered at any time. 

This means your civil liberties are in danger unless this law is scrapped.

Sign the petition to get rid of the Coronavirus Act and force the Government to instead focus on a response to the pandemic which protects human rights.

The Coronavirus Act was central to the Government’s pandemic response and was rushed through Parliament in just one day.

Some facts about the Act – and why it must be repealed:

• It gives the police broad new powers to detain anyone who could be infectious. But the Crown Prosecution Service has said that every single charge made under the Act has been wrong. 
• Our investigative journalism unit, Liberty Investigates, found that under regulations accompanying the Act, people of colour are 54 per cent more likely to be fined than white people. 
• It makes it legal for local councils to strip back social care. At least seven councils stopped providing even the most basic care services for disabled people in their areas.
• It threatens our right to protest.
• It failed to protect the most marginalised and the hostile environment has remained operational, even in the pandemic. 
• It allows the Government to suspend some elections. 

Remember, the Act has no firm end date. These powers could remain in place well beyond the pandemic.

But there is some hope. Thanks to Liberty and others, MPs can vote on whether to keep the Act or repeal it entirely. The Government will be reluctant to do this. But we must use this review as an opportunity to show how poor the Government’s response has been and why the Act must be repealed.

It is dangerous legislation that should never have been passed. The stranglehold on our civil liberties will remain until it’s scrapped.

Sign the petition to ask Government to get rid of the Coronavirus Act and focus on a response to the pandemic that protects our rights and freedoms.

Stay safe and stay well.

Martha Spurrier
Director

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Dear Larry,

Facing imprisonment for your way of life should be unthinkable, but it’s exactly what will happen to Gypsy and Traveller communities in the UK if we don’t act now. 

The Government is looking for feedback on proposals to criminalise trespassing and ‘unauthorised encampments’ – plans which threaten Gypsies’ and Travellers’ way of life and will provide justification for the persecution and discrimination they face.  

You have until 11.59pm on Wednesday 4 March to respond to the consultation. 

The plans give police powers to ban communities from returning to a specific area for a year – disrupting access to education and healthcare – and to seize property, meaning they could confiscate Gypsy and Traveller homes, leaving them at risk of homelessness and destitution. 

The police have said they don’t want these powers and the consultation even acknowledges that the real problem is the lack of authorised sites. But instead of solving this issue, the Government is treating an entire community with contempt. 

And the proposals are framed so broadly that it could also scoop up peaceful protests, for instance environmental protests where participants camp out.

The right to protest is a fundamental right and essential to our democracy – another reason trespass must not be criminalised.

There are only a few days left to respond to the consultation. You can use our prepared response to reply to the Government quickly and easily make sure these sinister plans never see the light of day. 

Or if you are a member of the Gypsy and Traveller community, Friends Families and Travellers is providing specific guidance and assistance with responding to the consultation.  

Please make your voice heard today.

Thank you for your support.

Martha Spurrier
Director

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Dear Larry,

I’m writing to you today because our Advice and Information service needs to raise £15,000 to keep up with the staggering demand caused by the coronavirus pandemic.  

The current crisis has meant we’ve all had to adapt in a short space of time. But new laws, rules, regulations and guidance have caused major confusion about what is and isn’t lawful at a time when there has never been a greater need for clarity.

This is where we come in. My team at Liberty offers free, impartial human rights legal advice to anyone who needs it. 

Since April, our regularly updated Coronavirus Advice and Information Hub has been viewed more than 120,000 times. 

We’ve produced tailored advice for protesters and homeless people so they know their rights. And we’re still providing bespoke legal advice to members of the public.  

The team has worked flat out throughout the pandemic to provide urgent, accurate legal advice – but we need your help to keep up with demand. 

You can donate today via our page on Crowdfunder. Your gift will help us reach our £15,000 target, enabling us to empower even more people to protect their rights in these uncertain times.

With your help, we’ll be able to temporarily increase our capacity, train our staff further on the systems we use and do essential outreach work with communities most in need of our support. 

A donation at any level you can afford will help us reach our target and strengthen our invaluable Advice and Information service at a time when it is both more challenged and more needed than ever.

Best Wishes

Olivia Percival

Advice and Information Manager

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Dear Larry,

People across the country are being cruelly arrested and fined simply for being homeless – but we can stop this now.

Karl Smith was arrested in 2008 for asking someone for 20p to make a phone call. He was fined before being sent straight back onto the street. 

He wasn’t offered any actual help. The 200-year old Vagrancy Act which led to his arrest doesn’t allow for that. 

Instead, if you’re homeless, this out-of-date law puts the onus on you to magically turn your fortunes around or face punishment. 

Fining people for being poor just keeps them poor. A speedy criminal record does not provide a route off the streets. But in just the last five years 8,500 people have been arrested for trying to survive. 

The Vagrancy Act must be scrapped. Please sign Karl’s petition today.

While the Act remains in place it will continue to be used to penalise rough sleepers. So let’s get this ancient, compassionless law off the books.

If you care about ending homelessness, please sign Karl’s petition to scrap the Vagrancy Act.

Thank you for your support.

Sam Grant
Policy and Campaigns Manager

PS – Karl’s petition is being hosted by Change.org. By adding your name, your data will be covered by Change.org’s privacy policy.

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Dear Larry,

This month we launched our campaign to repeal of the Coronavirus Act. 

These new laws and powers, ushered through parliament just before lockdown, drastically reimagined the powers of the State, and stand on the statute books as the biggest threat to civil liberties in over a generation.

The Coronavirus Act shows that the Government has tried to treat this public health crisis with a criminal justice crackdown. It fails to protect the most marginalised in society, and puts our rights at risk. We all know proportionate and sometimes difficult action must be taken to protect public health, but the Coronavirus Act is an overstep. It should be repealed and replaced with a public health strategy that protects our rights.

The Act isn’t fit for purpose. Please sign our petition today demanding that it’s scrapped. 

On Monday, we revealed more news[1] about police over-reaching their powers during lockdown, and news continued to emerge [2] about the police using their sweeping new powers in a way that discriminates against people of colour. 

We’ve also seen Conservative MP Steve Baker support our campaign by calling on his fellow MPs  to uphold civil liberties and scrap the Act.

Our petition to repeal the Act has already gained almost 10,000 signatures, but we need to keep that momentum going. When MPs return to Parliament after the summer break, they need to know that protecting our rights is a priority. We all need a public health strategy that we can trust – one that protects our rights.

Sign the petition.

Stay safe and well. 

Martha Spurrier
Director

[1] Guardian: Met Police increased use of Section 60 stop and search during lockdown
[2] BBC: Young ethnic minority men ‘more likely to get Covid fines’

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Dear Larry,

Starting now: any donation you’re able to make to Liberty until Tuesday 8 December will be doubled! 

Liberty’s legal advice service is a lifeline for anyone unable to find or afford a lawyer, anyone trying to exercise their fundamental right to protest, and anyone confused by ever-changing laws and regulations. 

It is vital everyone can protect their rights. And now for one week only, any donation you’re able to make towards our Advice and Information service through TheBigGive.org.uk will be doubled at no extra cost to you.

This year our legal advisors have already responded to more than 1,300  individual requests for help. The team’s online coronavirus hub has been accessed more than 120,000  times so far. And we have distributed 24,000 information cards to protesters, so they know their rights during the pandemic.

And with a year of uncertainty ahead as the Government tries to water down our rights, effectively ban protest and dodge accountability for its actions, it’s never been more important that we are all able to stand up to power. 

Donate now to have your gift doubled at no extra cost to you. Your support helps us keep fighting for a UK where everyone is treated fairly, with dignity and respect.

Thank you.   

Best wishes,
Olivia Percival

* Donations will be doubled thanks to the generosity of The Human Rights Fund and three law firms: Norton Rose Fulbright, Clifford Chance and Reed Smith.  

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Dear Larry,

No one should be above the law, but politicians are trying to limit people's ability to challenge the Government and other public bodies when they breach our fundamental rights. 

Since 1934 Liberty has been standing for justice, freedom and respect for everyone in the UK. We will give everything we’ve got to fight attempts to let the powerful hide from accountability. 

Holding the powerful to account

The UK has a system of checks and balances to ensure we can seek justice when we’ve been failed by public bodies. This system also ensures whichever party is in government, their actions remain within the law and don’t infringe upon our rights.

One way is through a type of legal challenge known as ‘judicial review’. Politicians are currently trying to limit our access to judicial review and in doing so put the Government and public bodies beyond the reach of the law.

In August, the Government set up a panel to examine changes to judicial review, including limits on it. Organisations were asked to submit evidence, and you can read Liberty’s submission here. 

We made clear that judicial review isn’t broken – it’s a well-established and well-functioning part of our democracy. Any limitations to it water down our ability to seek justice and will undermine values we all hold dear – fairness, accountability and the rule of law.

We need to keep justice accessible to everyone and ensure that politicians are held accountable for any mistakes they make. For society to be fair and just, we must strengthen judicial review, not limit it. We made suggestions on how this could be achieved in our submission.

No one should be above the law, especially those in power.

Our ability to challenge governments in court is essential to keep power in check. We must fight to keep that control.

Thank you for your support

Gracie Bradley
Interim Director

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Dear Larry,

JOIN LIBERTY FROM £1 PER MONTH

The coronavirus crisis has changed our lives and we’re all making sacrifices. It has brought out our resilience, but has also made existing issues and challenges worse. And in times like this, it’s those already on the margins of society who suffer most.

Liberty is fighting to protect everyone’s rights and freedoms during the pandemic, but we need your help.

Please become a member of Liberty at this crucial moment. We recognise this is a time of stress and uncertainty, so our reduced membership rate of £1 per month is now open to everyone. Please join for however much you can afford.

Liberty has challenged injustice, defended freedom and campaigned to make sure everyone in the UK is treated fairly since 1934 – through war time, peace time and major upheaval.

But we’re nothing without the support of our members – brave people speaking truth to power, standing up for others they may never meet, and encouraging many more to do the same. 

This is perhaps more important now than ever. 

Because the hostile environment is still in full effect, leaving people too afraid to seek medical care during a pandemic. 

Because vital protections for those of us who are disabled have been suspended.

Because people experiencing mental health crisis have also had essential checks removed. 

And because ’emergency’ powers could last for at least two years, way beyond the expected length of the crisis.

The more people that join Liberty, the stronger we are. Please join us today, for £1 or however much you can afford and help hold the powerful to account during the coronavirus crisis and beyond. 

Best wishes

Martha Spurrier

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Dear Larry,

Tomorrow, MPs will decide whether to re-enact the Coronavirus Act, a piece of legislation that contains powers that would allow this Government to ban protests, strip back social care, close borders and suspend elections.  

Use our easy tool to email your MP today and tell them to repeal these extreme measures and focus instead on a response that protects our rights.

Momentum is growing – more than 11,000 Liberty supporters have already emailed their MP. Keep the pressure up and email yours today. 

Crises for some Governments are used as opportunities to water down human rights and restrict civil liberties.

This has happened here in the UK. Back in March the Government introduced the Coronavirus Act – the biggest restriction on our individual and collective freedoms in a generation.

Liberty has always supported proportionate action to tackle this pandemic. But the powers within the Coronavirus Act can never be justified. As public health experts have been telling us again and again for the past six months, criminalisation and watering down rights are not solutions to a public health crisis – people need support and information to be able to stay safe and take care of one another.

Email your MP today and urge them to take this opportunity to scrap the Coronavirus Act. It’s the first step towards a pandemic response that keeps us safe and respects our rights. 

Best wishes,

Andrew Taylor-Dawson

Development Manager

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Dear Larry,

Over the past few weeks, we’ve all had to adjust to a new normal. It’s hard to come to terms with not being able to leave home whenever and for whatever reason we want. 

There’s also real fear of what the long-term impact of this crisis will be.

As history demonstrates, those at the margins of society often feel the sharp edges of a crisis first and for the longest. 

That is why it is more important than ever that we must do everything we can to keep human rights and freedoms at the centre of the UK’s strategy on dealing with this public health crisis. 

The Government response so far hasn’t been encouraging. 

The Home Office has told us “the health of everyone in the UK is the Government’s priority, regardless of their immigration status” – but the hostile environment is still in full effect.

This means undocumented migrants are too fearful to seek medical attention during a pandemic. 

Vital safeguards and protections for those of us who are disabled have been suspended. People experiencing mental health crisis have also had essential checks removed. 

And we’ve all experienced a mass stripping of our civil liberties, with the police given extraordinary powers which are already being applied unevenly. 

These powers could last for two years, way beyond the expected length of the pandemic.

Of course sacrifices must be made, but throughout history governments have overstepped the mark in times of crisis. Hard-won rights and freedoms are too frequently taken away again under the cover of an emergency. And temporary suspension has a habit of turning into permanent erasure. 

We can’t let that happen. 

We’re all prepared to make necessary changes, but everyone’s rights and freedoms must be protected. Add your name to this commitment today.

We will beat this virus the right way.

Thank you for your support

Martha Spurrier
Director

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Dear Larry,

This week the Government changed the lockdown rules. But the messaging on what we can and can’t do is even more confusing than before. And the amount of money you can be fined for getting it wrong has increased. 

This is a recipe for injustice.

There have been countless stories of heavy-handed policing in recent weeks. At a time of severe anxiety for all of us, we need to be certain what the laws and regulations say – and what our rights are.

Our legal team has worked tirelessly to make sure Liberty’s coronavirus advice and information hub provides up-to-date guidance so we can all defend our rights, for ourselves and our communities. 

If you shared this information when we asked last week – thank you. Please do share this update too. It’s crucial our explainers and advice reach as many people as possible.

Please share using the links below.

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Dear Larry,

Everyone should be entitled to their day in court, not just the rich and powerful. But an oversight in new ‘legal aid’ regulations is keeping some of the most marginalised people locked out, denying them a chance of justice. 

Legal aid is money made available for people who can’t afford lawyers’ fees. During the pandemic, changes were made to legal aid fees for asylum and immigration appeals without consultation or impact assessments.  

The unintended consequence is that it’s now harder for lawyers to get paid, meaning they can’t afford to take on complex cases like modern slavery and trafficking, leaving those seeking safety in the UK little hope of success.

Email your MP today, calling on them to strike down the regulations so the Government can rethink them to avoid this outcome.

The new regulations have almost tripled the legal aid fee – that’s the amount the State will pay a lawyer – for asylum and immigration cases, which sounds like a good thing.

But lawyers doing this work can only charge for actual time spent on the case where their work exceeds three times the value of the legal aid fee. So the amount of work they have to do to get paid properly has also almost tripled, actually making it more difficult for them to get paid and keep their firms alive.

This means they will be unlikely to take on more time-consuming appeals for people with complicated vulnerabilities – like trafficking victims and LGBT+ asylum seekers – because of the risk they won’t get paid, putting them in jeopardy too. 

And an appeal is usually a person’s last chance to stay in the country.

So regulations meant to make the system more sustainable have had the unintended effect of blocking people’s access to justice, which could also put their lives at risk.

The regulations must be suspended so proper consultation can take place to avoid these consequences.

Please email your MP today – it takes just a couple of minutes.

Thank you for your support.

Sam Grant

Policy and Campaigns Manager

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Dear Larry,

Tell us what you think about the Coronavirus Act 

I’m writing to you today to ask for your thoughts on the Coronavirus Act. 

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Liberty has worked to decipher the often confusing guidance from Government and provide people with easy to understand information to navigate a fast moving and challenging situation.

We’ve exposed the over-policing of BAME communities, the reduction of care services by local councils and the draconian police detention powers contained in the Act. 

Like many organisations, we’ve had to significantly shift what we’re working on during the crisis. We’ve had to ensure we’re putting our resources where they’ll be most effective to protect our rights, support the work of grassroots groups and provide people with the information they need. 

Now, we need your help. We want to understand how you feel about the Act and its impact on our rights. Please fill in our quick survey now. 

It takes just a few minutes and will give us valuable information that we can use as we plan the next stage of our work. 

We’ve all had to make huge sacrifices during the crisis, but a pandemic should not be an excuse to roll back our rights. 

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Stay safe and stay well.

Martha Spurrier

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Dear Larry,

We’re now into the third week of the coronavirus lockdown. But while we long for the day we’re out the other side, we can’t afford to ignore what the long-term impact of this public emergency could be.

History demonstrates a stark reality: those at the margins of society often feel the sharp edges of a crisis first and for the longest. 

This is why Liberty’s role is more important than ever and why we’re now fighting to keep human rights and freedoms at the centre of the UK’s strategy on dealing with this pandemic. 

The Government response so far hasn’t been encouraging. 

The hostile environment is as alive as ever, leaving undocumented migrants too fearful to seek medical attention even at this critical time. 

Vital safeguards and protections for those of us who are disabled have been suspended. People experiencing mental health crisis have also had essential checks removed. 

And everyone’s civil liberties have been stripped, with the police given extraordinary powers which are already being applied unevenly. 

These powers could last for more than two years, way beyond the expected length of the pandemic.

We’re all prepared to make changes, but history shows that those in power will often overstep the mark in times of crisis. Hard-won rights and freedoms are often taken away again under the cover of an emergency. And temporary suspension has a habit of turning into permanent erasure. 

We can’t let that happen. 

Sacrifices must be made, but everyone’s rights and freedoms must be protected. Over the weekend thousands have added their names to this commitment. Add yours today.

Our rights are hard won but easily lost.

Thank you for your support.

Martha Spurrier
Director

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Dear Larry,

• We’re supporting people with advice and information about their protest rights and we stand ready to challenge the police and Government when they deploy unlawful tactics against protestors.
• We will advance an anti-racist agenda across all our campaigning work and continue our work to dismantle the hostile environment, end immigration detention, challenge racist policing, stop discriminatory surveillance, fight racialised counter-terror measures and support victims of racism.
• We will do race equality assessments at the outset of all our projects and test our strategic planning against measurements of equity and inclusion. 
• We’re proud that our Board is evenly split, with Black people and people of colour making up 50 per cent. People of colour make up 25 per cent of our staff team, but our Senior Management Team is white. We’re redesigning our recruitment process, reviewing our policies and working on processes and structures to include greater diversity of experience and expertise and to create a genuinely inclusive organisational culture.

• Support the movement by donating to Black Lives Matter UK 
• Sign Liberty’s petition to end data sharing that supports the racist hostile environment
• Join Liberty’s call for a complete ban on the use of discriminatory facial recognition technology
• If you’re attending a Black Lives Matter protest here is some advice and information on your rights

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