Keir Starmer – författare

In this landmark study, a thorough audit of British compliance with international human rights standards is carried out. The book identifies 42 violations and 22 near-violationsor causes for concern. It provides an up-to-date description of law and practice withrespect to freedom of information; freedom of expression; freedom of assembly and publicprotest; freedom of association and trade unionism; state surveillance; the right to lifeand liberty; and the right to vote and stand in elections.This study measures political freedom in the United Kingdom specifically against aunique Human Rights Index, specially constructed from international human rightslaws and jurisprudence by the authors. The Index is an important new tool formonitoring human rights around the world. It is already being used to monitor newlegislation in the UK.The Three Pillars of Liberty is the first-ever analysis of both the political and legalsystems for securing political freedom in the UK as a whole. It is the most rigorous andsystematic review of those systems yet published—and finds them wanting. It strikes atthe heart of the historic traditions of government and the rule of law in this country.This book will be essential reading for all those interested in their rights and the rightsof others.

The Human Rights Act 1998 and R.I.P.A. came into force in October 2000, significantly altering the way in whch police investigations are carried out. Any person working within the fields of criminal law, law enforcement or part of regulatory body must be informed of these expansive new regulations. This text aims to provide an authorative guide to both of these major acts. It offers a comprehensive analysis of Convention case law, covering all aspects of police powers and criminal law from the first stages of a criminal investigation to trial and appeal in the criminal courts. It also indicates how and when human rights issues will arise in criminal cases.

Recent years have seen the release from prison of the Guildford Four, the Birmingham Six and Tottenham Three. The Maguire Seven have now been cleared of all charges, and the discredited West Midlands Crime Squad have now been disbanded. Each of these events has highlighted serious failures in the criminal justice system which have contributed to miscarriages of justice. Amongst the many disturbing features are the obtaining of confessions by unacceptable meansthe fabrication of evidencethe failure to disclose evidence adverse to the prosecution and the inadequacy of appeal and reference-back systems.This book examines the various steps within the criminal justice system which have resulted in the conviction of the innocent, and remedies as to how miscarriages might be avoided in the future are suggested. The contributors comprise academics, campaigners and practitioners, some of whom have been involved in the cases mentioned.