Changes to UK espionage laws will interfere 'with human rights', say MPs

A group of peers and MPs told the UK government that plans to overhaul espionage laws risk an “unnecessary interference with human rights”.

Changes to the National Security Bill “go too far”, said the Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR), and put freedom of speech at risk.

The committee called on ministers to make amendments to the proposals and ensure there can be adequate checks on how it is used.

The bill has been described as the biggest overhaul of security legislation for a generation and is expected to provide the security services with greater powers to tackle threats from spies and state-backed sabotage, as well as reform espionage laws like the Official Secrets Act to better tackle threats from hostile states such as Russia and China.

It will, for the first time, make it an offence to be an undeclared foreign spy in the UK and introduce a foreign interference offence to disrupt illegitimate influence activity done for, or on behalf of, a foreign state.

The new powers could help crack down on cases like that of the suspected Chinese spy Christine Lee who was accused of targeting politicians, according to Whitehall officials.

This year, MI5 issued a rare security alert, telling MPs that Ms Lee, a prominent London-based solicitor, had engaged in “political interference activities” on behalf of China’s ruling communist government.

But according to the committee’s findings, the bill “risks unnecessary interference with human rights by overextending powers relating to espionage offences and criminalising behaviour that does not pose a threat to national security.”

“It is right that legislation governing espionage offence be updated to better reflect the reality of the world in the 21st century,” said committee chairwoman Joanna Cherry.

“However, in its current guise the National Security Bill goes too far, with offences whose breadth puts at risk freedom of speech and freedom of assembly, an unnecessary extension of criminal immunity and measures that undermine the key principle of equal access to justice,” she said.

“We call on the government to revisit the bill and bring forward amendments to ensure that it protects national security without needlessly criminalising actions that pose no risk to it.

“It must also remove necessary impediments to the access of legal aid and damages to ensure that fundamental principles of justice and human rights are protected.”

The MI5 headquarters in London, Britain, 11 May 2022. EPA

The report comes as another element of the bill, which will make clandestine political activity by foreign agents illegal in the UK, was introduced to Parliament.

Anyone working for a foreign power will have to sign a register declaring who they are working for or face up to two years in jail under the plans.

The Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS), which is similar to rules already in force in the United States and Australia, aims to protect the UK’s institutions from secret efforts by foreign powers to influence them.

The bill will create offences for acts of sabotage and foreign interference and make it easier to disrupt perpetrators preparing to carry out such crimes.

Courts will also be given greater powers to hand down longer sentences for foreign state backed crimes under the proposals.

It is understood very few prosecutions take place under current espionage laws, but it is hoped this will increase if the new measures are adopted, as well as acting as a deterrent.

Where prosecutions are not realistic, Asbo-style restrictions on movements and travel, and where suspects can live and work, called State Threat Prevention and Investigation Measures (Stpims) could be used as a “last resort”.

These are similar to orders placed on a small number of terrorism suspects known as Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures (Tpims), where the person in question is monitored by the police and MI5 and any breach of the restrictions is treated as a criminal offence.

The measures could also block terrorists from receiving civil damages payouts which could be used to fund their crimes.

Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill

Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.

Ultra processed foods

- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns

- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;

- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces

- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,

- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.

Turkish Ladies

Various artists, Sony Music Turkey

Countries offering golden visas

UK
Innovator Founder Visa is aimed at those who can demonstrate relevant experience in business and sufficient investment funds to set up and scale up a new business in the UK. It offers permanent residence after three years.

Germany
Investing or establishing a business in Germany offers you a residence permit, which eventually leads to citizenship. The investment must meet an economic need and you have to have lived in Germany for five years to become a citizen.

Italy
The scheme is designed for foreign investors committed to making a significant contribution to the economy. Requires a minimum investment of €250,000 which can rise to €2 million.

Switzerland
Residence Programme offers residence to applicants and their families through economic contributions. The applicant must agree to pay an annual lump sum in tax.

Canada
Start-Up Visa Programme allows foreign entrepreneurs the opportunity to create a business in Canada and apply for permanent residence.

'Laal Kaptaan'

Director: Navdeep Singh

Stars: Saif Ali Khan, Manav Vij, Deepak Dobriyal, Zoya Hussain

Rating: 2/5

What are the influencer academy modules?

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Professional ethics.

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