We aim to ensure that anyone following or supporting these cases have the opportunity to understand the cases – including how the women affected are having to fight to have their case heard.
Harriet Wistrich (solicitor, Birnberg Peirce & Partners) spoke at “Undercover policing, democracy and human rights” meeting at the University of Manchester School of Law, 14th April 2016. She can be heard giving her over view here.
Points of law
Why this is a civil case?
To understand the difference between a civil and a criminal case, and the state of play with current criminal investigations, see here.
Two different kinds of law
The people affected are bringing claims under human rights law and common law. To understand the difference between the two, read more here.
Legal Battles
Applications by the police to strike out the case
The claimants have faced attempts by the police to have their case struck out. For an explanation of what a ‘strike out’ means, see here.
Police application for secret court
There was a battle about whether the human rights claims should be heard by a secret court, the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, under RIPA (Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act). This was unfortunately lost. Read more here.
‘Neither Confirm Nor Deny’
The police have been attempting to evade legal accountability by hiding behind the smokescreen of ‘Neither Confirm Nor Deny’ (NCND). For more on NCND, see here.
