Bethan Jenkins AC/AM South Wales West

AM writes to UK Justice Minister

Plaid Cymru Assembly Member for South Wales West, Bethan Jenkins has today slammed UK Government proposals to monitor people’s activities on social networking sites and store sensitive information – such as contact details and information on friends – on a Westminster government database.

The proposals have already been branded as a ‘snoopers’ charter’ by civil liberty campaigners and Ms Jenkins is calling on politicians and the public to lobby the government to ditch the plans.

Speaking from the Senedd today, Ms Jenkins said:

“These proposals are yet another example of the government’s attempts to invade the privacy of law-abiding citizens. Put into the context of DNA databases, high numbers of CCTV cameras and long periods of detention without charge for suspects, these most recent proposals are further evidence of the government’s disregard for individual privacy and human rights.

“I urge members of the public and politicians of all parties, to lobby the UK government to ditch these proposals and also to go a step further and review the damaging policies adopted over the last decade or more that have chiselled away at the foundation stone of civil liberties.”

Ms Jenkins also revealed that she has written to Justice Secretary Jack Straw expressing her opposition to these proposals and also highlighted her deep concern on hearing that the proposed database could be maintained by a private company.

Ms Jenkins added:

“I am adamant that such a database should not be compiled in the first place, but I am even more alarmed at suggestions that if the government is successful in pushing these proposals through, it will farm out responsibility for the database’s maintenance to a private company. Yet again this is an example of New Labour’s obsession with introducing market forces into areas that are fundamentally matters for the state.”
ENDS