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Emergency Powers and Civil Liberties Report OCT 2020

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Emergency Powers and Civil Liberties Report OCT 2020 OCT 2020 @BIGBROTHERWATCH – EMERGENCY POWERS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES REPORT [OCT 2020] – bigbrotherwatch.org.uk @BigBrotherWatch About Big Brother Watch Big Brother Watch is a civil liberties and privacy campaigning organisation, fighting for a free future. We’re determined to reclaim our privacy and defend freedoms at this time of enormous change. We’re a fiercely independent, non-partisan and non-profit group who work to roll back the surveillance state and protect rights in parliament, the media or the courts if we have to. We publish unique investigations and pursue powerful public campaigns. We work relentlessly to inform, amplify and empower the public voice so we can collectively reclaim our privacy, defend our civil liberties and protect freedoms for the future. Contact Silkie Carlo Director Email: [email protected] Madeleine Stone Legal and Policy Officer Email: [email protected] Emergency Powers & Civil Liberties Report Published: Wednesday 11th November 2 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 4 Recommendations .................................................................................................. 5 Emergency Laws ...................................................................................................... 8 Health Protection Regulations ............................................................................... 8 Tier system ........................................................................................................ 9 Reviews of restrictions ................................................................................... 9 Medium tier (‘Tier 1’) ..................................................................................... 11 ‘Medium plus’ tier ......................................................................................... 13 High tier (‘Tier 2’) ......................................................................................... 13 Very High tier (‘Tier 3’) ................................................................................... 14 Role of Parliament ............................................................................................ 16 Accessible law ................................................................................................. 19 Enforcement .................................................................................................... 20 Unlawful lockdown prosecutions ................................................................... 22 Lockdown fines ............................................................................................ 22 Scotland ...................................................................................................... 28 Northern Ireland ........................................................................................... 29 Coronavirus Act ..................................................................................................... 30 Schedule 21: detention powers ........................................................................ 30 Schedule 22: dispersal powers ......................................................................... 30 Requirement to Self-isolate ................................................................................. 31 Role of Parliament ............................................................................................ 32 Contact Tracing .................................................................................................. 34 Role of parliament ............................................................................................ 34 Test and Trace ................................................................................................. 36 App ................................................................................................................. 37 Health Passports ................................................................................................. 39 Covid Marshals ................................................................................................... 40 Biosurveillance ................................................................................................... 42 Social distancing ............................................................................................. 42 Thermal scanners ............................................................................................ 43 Freedom of Expression ........................................................................................ 45 Free speech online .......................................................................................... 45 Protest ............................................................................................................ 45 3 Introduction The month of October saw yet more policy and legal lurches across the UK. The month began with parliamentary debates on the Rule of 6, was dominated by the imposition of new ‘tiered’ restrictions, and ended with the announcement of a new national lockdown for England, voiding the prior regulations. The new set of ‘tiered’ regulations for England sliced the nation into one of three bands of restrictions and criminal sanctions — but only lasted three weeks. Meanwhile, Scotland imposed a five-tier system; Wales imposed a “fire break” lockdown; and Northern Ireland imposed a four-week lockdown. Across the four nations, a total of 515 pieces of legislation have been laid containing the word ‘coronavirus’ since the start of this year. Since the end of September, 33 coronavirus statutory instruments have been passed in England, totalling 285 pieces of delegated legislation at the time of writing.1 These instruments make a significant impact on every area of our lives, yet only 13 of these used the draft affirmative procedure, requiring parliamentary approval before an instrument is becomes law. These statutory instruments have been made under a vast array of Acts, 105 in total, as well as 3 Orders and one EU regulation. They include powers as various as the Saint Helena Act 1833, the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, the Football Spectators Act 1989, the Osteopaths Act 1993 and the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. Just 17 statutory instruments have been under the Coronavirus Act 2020, despite the Government’s emphasis on its urgent and continued necessity. The Government’s heavy-handed approach to public health has been characterised by the creation of excessive new legal obligations for individuals, businesses and organisations. We have long argued that the Government’s focus during this public health crisis should be on providing for people, rather than threatening them with legal action. The Government’s push toward more legislation, greater enforcement and bigger fines has been questioned by senior police officers. Chief Constable Kelly of Gwent Police told the Home Affairs Committee: “We need to think much more broadly around what enforcement looks like. It is not all about fixed penalty notices (…) It is very difficult to deviate away from [the] four Es and go straight to enforcement because people are confused in communities.”2 As coronavirus cases rise across the United Kingdom once again, it is evident that draconian laws and increased enforcement do not work. Meanwhile, the nations of the UK are drifting from long-held values — and from each other. We urge the Government to pursue an approach to coronavirus which focuses on public health and supports people, rather than criminalises them. 1 Coronavirus Statutory Instruments Dashboard — Hansard Society (updated 6th November 2020): https://www.hansardsociety.org.uk/publications/data/coronavirus-statutory-instruments-dashboard 2Oral evidence: Home Office preparedness for Covid-19 (Coronavirus), HC 232, Home Affairs Committee, 21st October 2020, Q 797:https://committees.parliament.uk/oralevidence/1097/pdf/ 4 Recommendations RECOMMENDATION 1: The return to a national lockdown represents a significant interference with our rights and freedoms and is not a long-term solution to a public health threat. The UK Government must use November to develop a strategy that does not result in the British public being placed under what is effectively house arrest every few months. RECOMMENDATION 2: The Secretary of State should issue written and oral statements in the House of Commons (or, during recess, online) following each review of the necessity of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations 2020 to foster transparency and to open subsequent measures to democratic scrutiny. The same process should take place by respective Ministers in devolved administrations. RECOMMENDATION 3: If the Government resumes a tiered system for restrictions it must publish a clear ‘roadmap’ that explains the criteria used for moving areas between tiers to ensure clarity and fairness. RECOMMENDATION 4: Exemptions to restrictions on gatherings must be consistent and fair — if the Government accepts that individuals are able to gather in a safe way for Remembrance Sunday, this must be applied equally across other significant religious and cultural events. RECOMMENDATION 5: Restrictions on ‘mingling’ are excessive, unclear and risk criminalising normal, safe behaviour. They should not be used again. RECOMMENDATION 6: Restrictions on businesses under each COVID-19 Alert Level must be harmonised in each of the regions they apply to, to avoid confusion and
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