Another one from the No Shit files.

BBC NEWS | Politics | British 'careless' with liberties

British people have been "careless" with their civil liberties, but that is beginning to change, former shadow home affairs minister David Davis has said.

Speaking at the Convention on Modern Liberty on Saturday, Mr Davis said people were growing increasingly angry at government intrusion in their lives.
...
"We have to accept that society and life carries risk and whilst it is the duty of the state to do its best to moderate and prevent what is wrong, nevertheless there are finite limits," he said.

"We, as citizens, have to make this clear to government, we are prepared consciously as adults to accept some element of risk in order to be free."

The government's plans to extend the period terrorist suspects can be held before being charged led to a large Labour rebellion last year - and prompted Mr Davis's resignation.

They were later shelved following a heavy defeat in the House of Lords.

Last week the Liberal Democrats unveiled their "Freedom Bill" and pledged a review of the use of CCTV cameras, the abolition of ID cards and control orders for terrorism suspects.

And earlier this month the Lords constitution committee warned that electronic surveillance and collection of personal data were "pervasive" in British society and threatened to undermine democracy.

Whoa. Is that a coffee smell early in the morning, the sleep still in my eyes?

Other thoughts on British liberties:
Britain's no-photographing-cops law: even the cops hate it - Boing Boing

Philip Pullman on the collapse of personal liberty in the UK - Boing Boing