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Commissioner Wink's 'Snooper's Charter'
could lead to breaches of citizens' privacy
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Equality Rights Group GGR has commented on a call made by outgoing Police Commissioner Wink in an interview to the Press where he reveals that he has proposed to Government the introduction of the Interception of Communications Act 1985, an outdated UK law which was repealed and replaced by Schedule 1 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA).
‘We need to combat crime effectively,’ a GGR spokesman stated, ‘but a ‘Snooper’s Charter’ is quite another thing in a tiny community such as Gibraltar.’
‘Both the outdated law which Commssioner Wink is calling to introduce here in Gibraltar, and its replacement (RIPA) have come under important criticism from both civil rights groups and politicians. Critics such as Labour MP Keith Vaz, the then chairman no less of the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee, have expressed concern that RIPA is being abused for "petty and vindictive" cases. If this kind of concern is applicable in a nation such as the UK, a small country such as Gibraltar has to pay particular attention.
‘We urge government therefore to proceed with much caution and reasonableness in any measures proposed for introduction. While Police clearly need powers to properly carry out their work in combatting crime, if UK experience is anything to go by, the framework of surveillance which Mr Wink is calling for may give way to serious but sanctioned breaches of citizens’ privacy. This is clearly contrary to the individual’s rights, and the balance between the police’s need for information and the individual citizen’s privacy must be very carefully gauged within any proposed new law.
‘We trust, therefore, that the whole process of consideration will be subject to full and open consultation through the Command Paper process, and look forward to an open debate where the public will be fully informed,’ the statement ended.
05-04-12
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