From civil liberties to a life turned upside down, Jason M Hadden reviews the latest offerings


Taking Liberties Since 1997

by Chris Atkins, Sarah Bee and Fiona Button

In cinemas nationwide from 8 June; Revolver books, £7.99

The film 'Taking Liberties Since 1997' is an exceptional insight into the erosion of our civil liberties during the last ten years of Tony Blair's New Labour government. British film-maker Chris Atkins' socio-documentary explores how the so-called 'War on Terror' has fundamentally changed our freedoms; how the destruction caused by 9/11 and 7/7 has had greater ramifications for our basic rights than we could ever have expected. It questions whether the government has gone too far in its legislation to protect citizens against terrorism.



New laws having been passed that have restricted our freedom in ways that were not even considered in wartime: the power to imprison for peaceful protest (Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005); the Home Secretary's power to place any British citizen under house arrest based only on a 'reasonable suspicion' (Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005); and the power of the police to issue fixed penalty notices for dozens of different crimes, which allows officers to decide guilt on the spot.



In researching the film, the makers have sourced quotes from leading lawyers including Michael Mansfield QC, Philippe Sands QC and Shami Chakrabarti, together with Boris Johnson and Tony Benn, politicians from opposite sides of the spectrum.



The consensus is that the government has gone too far in breaching the six central pillars of our civil liberties: the right to protest, the right to freedom of speech, the right to privacy, the right not to be detained without charge, that one is innocent until proven guilty, and the prohibition against torture.



'Taking Liberties' mixes shocking footage with moments of incredulous humour: genuine tales of an RAF war veteran arrested for wearing an anti-Blair and Bush T-shirt; a man held under house arrest for two years after being found innocent in court; and two teenage sisters detained for 36 hours for a peaceful protest.



There are moments in the movie when you just shake your head or shout at the screen, 'No, this can't be happening. Not in Britain'. But it is.



The film raises real issues as to what we, as lawyers or perhaps as simply citizens, want to do and have to do to protect our freedoms. Or does apathy rule?



It is neither pro-Tory nor anti-New Labour - just a pro human rights piece. This film will challenge and energise you into doing something, anything, to make a difference. If you see one film this summer, make sure it is this one



Jason M Hadden is a solicitor-advocate and presenter with BPP