1984

The classic was published on 8 June 1949 – and has had a deep impact on millions. Andrew Johnson talks to writers about it – and asks them to cite their favourite reads

Drinkers in pubs are to be told to stand in a queue and banned from ordering more than two drinks at a time at the bar.

Rope barriers similar to those used in shops and post offices will be installed to keep customers in line.

The plan has been proposed following concern over disorder and violence in a town centre’s bars.

The two-drink limit is intended to curb binge-drinking and stop customers ordering large amounts of alcohol. In addition, customers would not be allowed to drink while queuing.

But critics say the ‘nanny state’ restrictions will end the convivial British tradition of drinkers buying rounds for their friends.

Mark Hastings, of the British Beer And Pub Association, said: ‘We have no problem with tackling problem drinking but this is not the way to go about it.

‘These measures are costly, unnecessary and totally disproportionate at a time when around 40 pubs are closing every week.

‘People aren’t going to want to drink if they have to queue up as if they’re in the post office.’

What’s wrong with table waiters? Or is that too obvious?

Councils are to be banned from using covert surveillance measures to target “trivial” offences.

Town hall officials have been condemned for using anti-terror powers to target people who put their bins out on the wrong day or let their dogs foul in the street.

Councillors or senior officials could soon be required to approve their use under plans set out in a review of changes to the Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Ripa) Act.

Ripa powers have been criticised as an extension of the “surveillance state”. Councils were found to be using them to investigate parents accused of lying about where they live to get their children in to better schools.

The Tories have called for the use of the powers to be restricted to offences that carry a prison sentence.

Shadow home secretary Chris Grayling said the Government had allowed Ripa to become “a snooper’s charter”.

“It was supposed to be there to tackle terrorism and serious crime,” he said.

“Instead it’s being used by both the Government and hundreds of local authorities to pry into all kinds of different parts of people’s lives. It has to stop.”

Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne said the consultation was “a tacit admission by the Government that its surveillance society has got out of hand”.

A newspaper seller who died of a heart attack during the G20 protests was ‘violently attacked’ by riot police, eye witnesses claim.

Ian Tomlinson, 47, was hit ‘near the head’ with a police baton and shoved to the ground by charging riot officers, according to statements received by the police watchdog.

Another witness claims he was bitten on the arm by a police dog.

The Independent Police Complains Commission is examining a series of accounts that allege Mr Tomlinson was a victim of police violence.

He was on his way home from work at a nearby newsagent when he got caught up in the violent protests near the Bank of England in the City of London last Wednesday evening.

Shortly after the alleged assault, he collapsed and suffered a heart attack.

Initially a post mortem carried out by police attributed his death to natural causes.

But this version of events was challenged after witnesses recognised the dead man from photographs that were published on Friday.

An IPCC statement was due to be released the same day and is understood to have portrayed the death as a tragic accident.

However, this was postponed after the watchdog received information that police officers may have been more involved in events than previously thought.

shadowfirebird:

‘Since 4th January we’ve known it: the UK police will soon be able to hack into people’s personal computers without a search warrant, in line with “EU initiatives against cybercrime”.’

shadowfirebird:

‘It is now an imprisonable offence to allow an unlicensed concert to take place in a church hall. You can go to prison if your child fails to attend school, or if you smoke in a public place, or if you fail to obtain a passport for your pet donkey or if you are a child caught in possession of a firework at any time other than on or around November 5 or New Year’s Day.’