No free man shall be seized or imprisoned, or stripped of his rights or possessions, or outlawed or exiled, nor will we proceed with force against him, except by the lawful judgement of his equals or by the law of the land. To no one will we sell, to no one deny or delay right or justice.

Magna Carta, 1215


"In the end, more than they wanted freedom, they wanted security. They wanted a comfortable life, and they lost it all -- security, comfort, and freedom. When ... the freedom they wished for was freedom from responsibility, then Athens ceased to be free."

Edward Gibbon 1737 – 1794.


As of 6.35pm on Wednesday 11th June 2008 any British citizen can be imprisoned for up to six weeks without being charged, without being told why they are being held, and without any evidence being presented against them.