Sir Hugh Orde, president of the Association of Chief Police Officers, has called for undercover policing operations to be authorised in advance by a judge.

A renewed popular discourse on fundamental human rights for all is needed in the face of the erosion of civil liberties by governments and corporate power, said the director of Liberty this morning.

Civil liberties campaigners have condemned UK Justice Secretary Jack Straw for comments in a newspaper article casting doubts on the Human Rights Act and saying that it may be likened to a "criminal's charter".