UTIAC Prior to the new immigration rules (HC 194) introduced on 9 July 2012, cases involving Article 8 ECHR ordinarily required a two-stage assessment: (1) first to assess whether the decision appealed against was in accordance with the immigration rules; (2) second to assess whether the decision was contrary to the appellant’s Article 8 rights.The … Continue reading MF (Article 8 – New Rules) Nigeria: UTIAC 31 Oct 2012
The prisoner was receiving long term health treatment, and objected that his correspondence with the doctor was being read. He was held as a category B prisoner but in a prison also holding category A prisoners, whose mail would be read. The prison settled upon a routine of the prison doctor reading the mail. Held: … Continue reading Szuluk, Regina (on the Application of) v HM Prison Full Sutton: Admn 20 Feb 2004
The prisoner complained that the prison arranged that outgoing telephone calls from the prison should be preceded by a message which said the call was being made from a prison. Held: There was no lawful authority for the message. The prison rules allowed rules to be made for the purposes of the regulation, management or … Continue reading Potter for Judicial Review of Acts and Decisions of the Scottish Prison Service: OHCS 20 Mar 2007
On reception into prison, the prison took cash from the claimant which was returned on his release. He claimed that it should have been invested. Held: The credit of the receipt into the books of the prison created only a debt as between the prison and prisoner. No trust was created. What was taken was … Continue reading Duggan v Governor of Full Sutton Prison and Another: ChD 28 Feb 2003
A scheme had been introduced to arrange pre-entry clearance for visitors to the United Kingdom by posting of immigration officers in the Czech Republic. The claimants argued that the system was discriminatory, because Roma visitors were now subjected to a much more rigorous examination than others, and also that the arrangement put the respondent in … Continue reading European Roma Rights Centre and others v Immigration Officer at Prague Airport and Another: CA 20 May 2003
The prisoner was awaiting sentence. He had dismissed his legal team, and wanted to appoint Italian lawyers, and avvocato to advise him, in the expectation that the Italian lawyer would later engage English lawyers to present his case in court. He wanted his lawyer to see him in prison, and appealed the prison’s refusal to … Continue reading Regina (Van Hoogstraten) v Governor of HM Prison Belmarsh: QBD 23 Sep 2002
The prisoner, a notorious murderer had begun to write his autobiography. His solicitor wished to return a part manuscript to him in prison to be finished. The prison did not allow it, and the prisoner claimed infringement of his article 10 rights. Held: Section 47 of the Act speaks not only of regulation and management … Continue reading Nilsen v HM Prison Full Sutton and Another: CA 17 Nov 2004
UTIAC 1 The expectation is that it will be an exceptional case in which permission to appeal to the Upper Tribunal should be granted where the lodging of the application for permission is more than 28 days out of time. Where, in such a case, a judge is minded to grant permission, the preferable course … Continue reading Ogundimu (Article 8 – New Rules) Nigeria: UTIAC 8 Feb 2013
(Grand Chamber) The applicant, a prisoner serving a long sentence for Mafia-type criminal offences, was subjected to a special regime by ministerial decrees. The restrictions included not only very limited family visits but also a long period (seemingly about three years) in a special form of high-security unit which involved separation from prisoners in other … Continue reading Enea v Italy: ECHR 17 Sep 2009
The claimant, serving a long jail sentence, said that as a Buddhist, he needed a meat free diet. This was granted at first for medical reasons, but then withdrawn. All attempts failed, and he was mistreated by prison guards. The prison service denied any obligation to provide a diet special to his religious beliefs. Held: … Continue reading Jakobski v Poland: ECHR 7 Dec 2010
The applicant was serving a long sentence for serious offences. He had submitted several requests for ‘prison leave’ in order to carry out tasks in preparation for his eventual release. These had been refused by the Attorney General. The domestic courts in turn rejected his applications for judicial review on the ground that they had … Continue reading Boulois v Luxembourg: ECHR 14 Dec 2010
ECHR Article 8-1 Respect for correspondence Respect for family life Restriction on Turkish prisoners using Kurdish when telephoning: violation Facts – During their imprisonment, the applicants were prevented by the prison authorities from conducting telephone conversations in Kurdish with their relatives. Their appeals against those restrictions were dismissed. Law – Article 8: The restriction imposed … Continue reading Nusret Kaya and Others v Turkey: ECHR 22 Apr 2014
Article 8-1 – Respect for correspondence – Refusal by prison authorities to transmit to prisoner e-mail from his lawyer: inadmissible Facts – While the applicant was in prison, his lawyer sent him an e-mail using the prison’s e-mail account. The prison governor refused to transfer the e-mail to the applicant and advised the lawyer to … Continue reading Helander v Finland (Dec): ECHR 10 Sep 2013
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The prisoner as a buddhist was entitled to have in his cell an incense burner. He was accused of having a sharpened object. It was in the shape of a lotus leaf. No evidence was brought that the claimant had sharpened the object. Held: The claimant was entitled to relief. The priosn officer could not … Continue reading Shreeve, Regina (on the Application of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department: Admn 26 Oct 2007
The serving prisoner said that new general restrictions on smoking in public buildings applied also in prisons. were a breach of his human rights. The only spaces where prisoners were allowed now to smoke were their cells, and he would share cells with smokers, suffering second hand inhalation. He suffered health problems. Judges: Singh J … Continue reading Black, Regina (on The Application of) v Secretary of State for Justice: Admn 5 Mar 2015
The three defendants wished to appeal against orders for their extradition to Poland. They had been arrested, and while in custody had used the prison’s support services, who failed to serve their notices in time. Held: The notices were ineffective. The Court was given no discretion to extend time for service. Citations: [2011] EWHC 2060 … Continue reading Pomiechowski v District Court of Legunica, Poland: Admn 15 Jun 2011
A Discretionary lifer is not entitled to a review by a court of his continued detention. His article five rights were not breached. Where a national court imposed a fixed sentence of imprisonment, the supervision required by article 5.4 was incorporated into that judgment. The court held that the mandatory life sentence belonged to a … Continue reading Wynne v United Kingdom: ECHR 18 Jul 1994
The claimant sought to enforce a judgment debt against a foreign resident company, and for this purpose to examine or have examined a director who lived abroad. The defendant said that the rules gave no such power and they did, the power was outside the rule-maker’s power. Held: Even though the rule-making power is wide … Continue reading Masri v Consolidated Contractors International Co Sal and Others: HL 30 Jul 2009
The defendant appealed against an anti-social behaviour order. He had been a journalist, and began a private newsletter and campaign alleging amongst other things corruption in the police. He complained that his article 10 rights had been infringed. Held: The order was quashed. Pitchford LJ said: ‘that separate issues arise out of these blogs. In … Continue reading Perry v Chief Constable of Humberside Police: Admn 18 Oct 2012
The claimant said that whilst he had been being taken from an immigration detention centre to hospital, he had been restrained by various forms of handcuffs. He said that had been unlawful. Held: The claim failed: ‘ the recommendation that there should only be handcuffing in exceptional circumstances is to apply too high a test. … Continue reading FGP v Serco Plc and Another: Admn 5 Jul 2012
Claims were made after the deaths of British troops on active service in Iraq. In one case the deaths were from detonations of improvised explosive devices, and on others as a result of friendly fire. It was said that there had been a foreseeable risk of the deaths. The defendant sought the strike out of … Continue reading Smith and Others v Ministry of Defence: QBD 30 Jun 2011
The claimant’s son had died of hyperthermia whilst serving in the army in Iraq. The parties requested a new inquisition after the coroner had rules that human rights law did not apply to servicemen serving outside Europe. Reports had been prepared but were not disclosed to the coroner until the last day of the inquest … Continue reading Smith v The Assistant Deputy Coroner for Oxfordshire: Admn 11 Apr 2008
The applicant was a convicted murderer who had been held in a high security mental hospital. His application for unescorted leave had been refused, and he wished to challenge the decisions. Anonymity in the subsequent proceedings had been refused to him, but retained pending the appeal. Held: His appeal was allowed: ‘an anonymity order is … Continue reading Regina (on the application of C) v Secretary of State for Justice: SC 27 Jan 2016
The applicants complained that as an unmarried couple they had been excluded from consideration as adopters. Held: Northern Ireland legislation had not moved in the same way as it had for other jurisdictions within the UK. The greater commitment to traditional family structures did not however justify the difference. The rules were unlawful discrimination.Lord Hoffmann … Continue reading In re P and Others, (Adoption: Unmarried couple) (Northern Ireland); In re G: HL 18 Jun 2008
(Outer House Court of Session) The petitioner complaine dthat whilst serving a very long term of imprisonment, he had been held in segregation for almost five years, and that this contravened the Prison Rules and his human rights. Held: The claim was refused. Judges: Lord Malcolm Citations: [2011] ScotCS CSOH – 192, 2012 Rep LR … Continue reading Shahid v Scottish Ministers: SCS 18 Nov 2011
The court considered the compatibility with EU law of regulations 21 and 24 of the 2006 Regulations, and the legality at common law of the appellant’s administrative detention from 3 April until 6 June 2012 and of bail restrictions thereafter until 2 January 2013. The regulations were designed to give effect to the Citizens Directive … Continue reading Nouazli, Regina (on The Application of) v Secretary of State for The Home Department: SC 20 Apr 2016
Conjoined hearing of appeals in respect of three judgments covering the cases of five individual immigrants who were placed in detention for periods pending possible removal to other EU Member States pursuant to the asylum claim arrangements under the so-called Dublin III Regulation (Regulation (EU) No. 604/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council … Continue reading Hemmati and Others, Regina (on The Application of) v The Secretary of State for The Home Department: CA 4 Oct 2018
Member states may be liable to individuals for their failure to implement EU laws. The right of individuals to rely on directly applicable provisions of the EC Treaty before national courts is not sufficient in itself to ensure full and complete implementation of the Treaty. LMA Brasserie de Pecheur – Claim by a French brewery … Continue reading Brasserie du Pecheur v Bundesrepublik Deutschland; Regina v Secretary of State for Transport, ex parte Factortame and others (4): ECJ 5 Mar 1996
Grand Chamber – The first applicant said he had been injured by a shot fired by a British soldier who had been carried for two miles into the Republic of Ireland, clinging to the applicant’s vehicle following an incident at a checkpoint. Held: Rules granting the State immunities, did not infringe the applicants’ right to … Continue reading McElhinney v Ireland; Al-Adsani v United Kingdom; Fogarty v United Kingdom: ECHR 21 Nov 2001
In each case litigants in person had sought to be allowed to have the assistance and services of a Mackenzie friend in children cases. In one case, the court had not allowed confidential documents to be disclosed to the friend. Held: The courts had been unhelpful to the parties appearing before them. If given access … Continue reading O and others (Children); In re O (Children), In re W-R (a Child), In re W (Children): CA 22 Jun 2005
1) European Union law must be interpreted as meaning that it is for the member states to define the concept of ‘workers who have an employment contract or an employment relationship’ in clause 2.1 of the Framework Agreement . . and in particular, to determine whether judges fall within that concept, subject to the condition … Continue reading O’Brien v Ministry of Justice: ECJ 1 Mar 2012
Hudoc Judgment (Merits and just satisfaction) Preliminary objections dismissed (non-exhaustion, abuse of right of petition); Violation of Art. 5-4; Violation of Art. 8; Violation of Art. 13; Not necessary to examine Art. 9 or Art. 13+9; Non-pecuniary damage – financial award; Costs and expenses partial award – Convention proceedingsthe Bulgarian authorities had deported the first … Continue reading Al-Nashif v Bulgaria: ECHR 20 Jun 2002
The applicants were detained at Rampton. The form of detention denied the access to space in which they would be able to smoke cigarettes to comply with the law. Held: The claim failed. The legislative objectives were sufficiently serious to support as rational the imposition of the rules. Having a mental illness is not a … Continue reading G, Regina (on the Application of) v Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust: Admn 20 May 2008
ECHR Judgment Merits and Just Satisfaction : Court Grand Chamber Citations: 16483/12, [2016] ECHR 1124 Links: Bailii Statutes: European Convention on Human Rights Jurisdiction: Human Rights Citing: Chamber Judgment – Khlaifia And Others v Italy ECHR 1-Sep-2015 . . Endorsed – De Souza Ribeiro v France ECHR 13-Dec-2012 (Grand Chamber) A Brazilian man was arrested … Continue reading Khlaifia And Others v Italy: ECHR 15 Dec 2016
The appellant, an Iraqi national had arrived in 2000 as a child, and stayed unlawfully after failure of his asylum claim. He was convicted twice of drugs offences. On release he was considered a low risk of re-offending. He had been in a serious relationship with an English woman since 2005. However the Home Secretary … Continue reading Hesham Ali (Iraq) v Secretary of State for The Home Department: SC 16 Nov 2016
Judges: Ineta Ziemele, P Citations: 63339/12 – Admissibility Decision, [2014] ECHR 340, 14876/12 Links: Bailii Statutes: European Convention on Human Rights Jurisdiction: Human Rights Citing: Legal Summary – IR and GT v The United Kingdom (Dec) ECHR 28-Jan-2014 ECHR Article 8 Expulsion Exclusion orders based on undisclosed national security grounds: inadmissible Facts – The case … Continue reading IR and GT v The United Kingdom: ECHR 28 Jan 2014
(Grand Chamber) A Brazilian man was arrested in French Guiana and ordered to be removed on the basis that his presence there was illegal. On the day following his arrest he filed an application for judicial review of the order but, later on that very day, he was removed to Brazil. Held: France had breached … Continue reading De Souza Ribeiro v France: ECHR 13 Dec 2012
The council tenant had wished to appeal following a possession order made after her tenancy had been demoted. The court handed down a supplemental judgment to give effect to its earlier decision. The Court had been asked ‘whether article 8 of the . . Convention . . requires a court, which is being asked to … Continue reading Manchester City Council v Pinnock: SC 9 Feb 2011
(Grand Chamber) The applicant came lawfully to Austria when 6. He committed a large number of offences when he was 14 and 15, and had been sentenced to imprisonment. He complained of a later decision to deport him. Held: The court said: ‘ The Court would stress that while the criteria which emerge from its … Continue reading Maslov v Austria: ECHR 23 Jun 2008
Grand Chamber – while there may have been reasons for doubting whether the applicants would receive a fair trial, there was not sufficient information to show that any possible irregularities in the trial were liable to constitute a flagrant denial of justice. In para O-III14 of their joint partly dissenting opinion, to which Judge Rozakis … Continue reading Mamatkulov And Askarov v Turkey: ECHR 4 Feb 2005
The newspaper applied for leave to access documents referred to but not released during the course of extradition proceedings in open court. Held: The application was to be allowed. Though extradition proceedings were not governed by the Civil Procedure Rules, wider principles still applied. The open justice principle is a constitutional principle to be found … Continue reading Guardian News and Media Ltd, Regina (on The Application of) v City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court: CA 3 Apr 2012
Criminality of Assisting Suicide not Infringing The court was asked: ‘whether the present state of the law of England and Wales relating to assisting suicide infringes the European Convention on Human Rights, and whether the code published by the Director of Public Prosecutions relating to prosecutions of those who are alleged to have assisted a … Continue reading Nicklinson and Another, Regina (on The Application of): SC 25 Jun 2014
The claimant journalist sought disclosure of papers acquired by the respondent in its conduct of enquiries into the charitable Mariam appeal. The Commission referred to an absolute exemption under section 32(2) of the 2000 Act, saying that the exemption continued until the papers were destroyed, or for 20 years under the 1958 Act. Held: The … Continue reading Kennedy v The Charity Commission: SC 26 Mar 2014
Evidence from 3rd Party Torture Inadmissible The applicants had been detained following the issue of certificates issued by the respondent that they posed a terrorist threat. They challenged the decisions of the Special Immigration Appeals Commission saying that evidence underlying the decisions had probably been obtained by torture committed by foreign powers, and should not … Continue reading A and others v Secretary of State for the Home Department (No 2): HL 8 Dec 2005
Three prisoners raised questions as to the circumstances in which the Parole Board is required to hold an oral hearing before making an adverse decision. One of the appeals (Osborn) concerned a determinate sentence prisoner who was released on licence but then recalled to custody. The other appeals (Booth and Reilly) were indeterminate sentence prisoners … Continue reading Osborn v The Parole Board: SC 9 Oct 2013
The defendants had been convicted on evidence obtained from them by inspectors with statutory powers to require answers on pain of conviction. Subsequently the law changed to find such activity an infringement of a defendant’s human rights. Held: There was no requirement for a court to implement a Human Rights Court decision retrospectively to require … Continue reading Regina v Lyons, Parnes, Ronson, Saunders: HL 15 Nov 2002
Citations: 1638/03, [2007] ECHR 224 Links: Bailii, Bailii Statutes: European Convention on Human Rights Jurisdiction: Human Rights Cited by: Cited – Rainford, Regina (on the Application of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department Admn 17-Oct-2008 The claimant had been in England since he was 11, and was now 38. He had been repeatedly … Continue reading Maslov v Austria: ECHR 22 Mar 2007
The newspaper appealed against a finding that it had infringed the claimant’s privacy by publishing a photograph of her leaving a drug addiction clinic. Held: The claimant had courted publicity, and denied an involvement in drugs. The defence of qualified privilege in defamation is not to be equated with the rules in privacy cases. The … Continue reading Campbell v Mirror Group Newspapers plc: CA 14 Oct 2002
The Court considered the procedures when a prisoner is kept in solitary confinement, otherwise described as ‘segregation’ or ‘removal from association’, and principally whether decisions to keep the appellants in segregation for substantial periods were taken lawfully. Held: The segregation was not authorised by the applicable legislation: ‘rule 45 . . (1) enables the governor … Continue reading Bourgass and Another, Regina (on The Application of) v Secretary of State for Justice: SC 29 Jul 2015
ECHR Article 6 Criminal proceedings Article 6-1 Access to court Decision to strike out civil claims alleging torture on account of immunity invoked by defendant State (the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) and its officials: no violation Facts – The applicants alleged that they had been subjected to torture while in custody in the Kingdom of … Continue reading Jones And Others v The United Kingdom: ECHR 14 Jan 2014
The defendants faced charges under the two Acts. They raised as a preliminary issue whether it is necessary for the Crown to prove that the property being converted was in fact the proceeds, in the case of the 1994 Act, of drug trafficking and, in the case of the 1988 Act, of crime. The Crown … Continue reading Regina v Montila and Others: HL 25 Nov 2004
The court considered the justification for extended sentences of imprisonment for public protection: ‘Its justification is the protection of the public. It is indeterminate. Release depends on the judgment of the Parole Board as to the risk which the prisoner presents. The court must fix a minimum term before which release cannot be considered, calculated … Continue reading Pedley, Martin and Hamadi v Regina: CACD 14 May 2009
(Commission) The prisoner alleged that the denial of his right to vote whilst in prison was disproportionate. He was serving a life sentence for manslaughter. Held: The denial of a right to vote was in infringement of his rights and disproportionate. Different signatory countries had applied different standards. The UK law made a great distinction … Continue reading Hirst v The United Kingdom (No. 2): ECHR 30 Mar 2004
Proposed changes to the Legal Aid regulations were challenged as being invalid, for being discriminatory. If regulations are not authorised under statute, they will be invalid, even if they have been approved by resolutions of both Houses under the provisions of the relevant enabling Act. Held: The appeal succeeded as to the ultra vires issue.Lord … Continue reading The Public Law Project, Regina (on The Application of) v Lord Chancellor: SC 13 Jul 2016
The court considered the lawfulness of telephone tapping. The issue arose following a trial in which the prosecution had admitted the interception of the plaintiff’s telephone conversations under a warrant issued by the Secretary of State. The plaintiff claimed that the interception had been and was unlawful. Held: Although he dismissed the plaintiff’s claim, the … Continue reading Malone v Commissioner of the Police for the Metropolis (No 2): ChD 28 Feb 1979
The respondent brought in laws restricting marriages between persons subject to immigration control, requiring those seeking non Church of England marriages to first obtain a certificate from the defendant that the marriage was approved. The applicants said this was discriminatory and infringed their human rights. Held: Legislation which prevented marriages of convenience between aliens and … Continue reading Baiai and Others, Regina (on the Application of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department: Admn 10 Apr 2006
The claimants said that the the laws restricting residence and voting rights and oher constitutional arrangements on the Isle of Sark were in breach of European law, and human rights law. Held: The claims failed. The composition of Chief Pleas under the Reform Law are not inconsistent with the rights conferred by Article 3, nor … Continue reading Barclay and Others, Regina (on the Application of) v The Seigneur of Sark and Another: Admn 18 Jun 2008
A schoolgirl complained that she had been excluded from school for wearing a form of attire which accorded with her Muslim beliefs. Held: The school had made great efforts to establish what forms of wear were acceptable within the moslem community, and set uniform standards accordingly. However sincere her religious beliefs, the claimant had chosen … Continue reading Begum, Regina (on the Application of) v Denbigh High School: Admn 15 Jun 2004
In 1992, the claimant and members of his family were made subject to restraint orders after his conviction for corruption. They now applied for discharge of the orders claiming excessive delay. Nothing had moved forward since 1996, saying hey had in any event been automatically stayed in 2000. Held: The delay was unacceptable, and both … Continue reading Ministry of Defence v Foxley and others: Admn 10 Dec 2007
A serving prisoner was stabbed to death in his cell. The appellant admitted that he had punched the victim twice but maintained that another man had stabbed him, which explained the incriminating presence of the victim’s blood in the vicinity of the appellant’s cell and on his hand. As the victim lay dying, he uttered, … Continue reading Musone v Regina: CACD 23 May 2007
The claimants challenged rules which meant that certain immigrants subject to immigration control were unable to marry, save only those marrying according to the rites of the Church of England. Held: The rules were not justified by evidence that a sufficient number of sham marriages, or that the number of such marriages had any overall … Continue reading Secretary of State for the Home Department v Baiai and others: CA 23 May 2007
The Home Secretary appealed from a finding that illegally entered asylum seekers had been unlawfully detained pending removal. The five claimants had travelled through other EU member states before entering the UK. The court considered inter alia whether damages for false imprisonment were allowable under Factortame. Held: The appeals failed. Chapter 55 of the EIG … Continue reading Hemmati and Others, Regina (on The Application of) v Secretary of State for The Home Department: SC 27 Nov 2019
The applicants complained that they had been made subject to non-derogating control orders as suspected terrorists, but that the failure to inform them of the allegations or evidence against them was unfair and infringed their human rights. The material was withheld in the interests of national security. Held: The failure to supply the defendants with … Continue reading Secretary of State for the Home Department v AF AN and AE (No 3): HL 10 Jun 2009
(Northern Ireland) The applicant sought judicial review of a decision not to disclose documents held by the respondent to him saying that the refusal was disproportionate and infringed his human rights. The respondents said that the documents were provided on an assurance of confidentiality. Held: Disclosure rules are different in judicial review proceedings since such … Continue reading Tweed v Parades Commission for Northern Ireland: HL 13 Dec 2006
The prisoner had been released on licence but then recalled. He complained that the procedure infringed his human rights. He had been convicted of manslaughter, and was seen to be a long term danger. The court awarded him compensation saying that the parole board had unduly delayed in informing him of the reasons for his … Continue reading Hirst v Secretary of State for the Home Department: CA 6 Jul 2006
Appeal against an extradition order for his extradition to Spain. The court was concerned with an issue of ‘extraneous circumstances’ arising under, respectively, section 6(1) of the 1989 Act and section 13 of the 2003 Act. Judges: Scott Baker LJ, Openshaw J Citations: [2006] EWHC 1239 (Admin), [2007] 1 WLR 768 Links: Bailii Statutes: Extradition … Continue reading Hilali v The National Court, Madrid and Another (No 5): Admn 26 May 2006
The applicant intended to appeal refusal of her challenge to the verdict of the coroner. For the first time at appeal she sought a protective costs order. Held: The Corner House case established that a request for a protective costs order could only be approved if the applicant had no private interest in the outcome … Continue reading Goodson v HM Coroner for Bedfordshire and Luton and Another (No 2): CA 12 Oct 2005
The claimants challenged the validity of regulations restricting cigarette advertisements, saying that greater exceptions should have been allowed, and that the regulations infringed their commercial right of free speech. Held: The Regulations were lawful. There was a balance to be found between the need for commercial freedom of speech, and the protection of public health. … Continue reading British American Tobacco UK Ltd and Others, Regina (on the Application of) v Secretary of State for Health: Admn 5 Nov 2004
The applicant, a Kuwaiti citizen of previous good character had been ordered to be deported after serving a sentence for drugs and dishonesty. He sought review of the IAT’s refusal of his appeal, arguing that Rule 162 of the 1983 rules required the Home Secretary to apply the same rules to both EC and non-EC … Continue reading Al-Sabah (Sheikh Mohammed Nasser) v Immigration Appeal Tribunal: CA 1992
ECJ The right of nationals of a member state to enter the territory of another member state and reside there is a right conferred directly, on any person falling within the scope of community law, by the Treaty, especially articles 48, 52 and 59 or where appropriate, by the provisions adopted.For its implementation, independently of … Continue reading Royer v Belgium: ECJ 8 Apr 1976
The applicant had been sentenced to 50 years’ imprisonment for several offences. He had leukemia and was to receive chemotherapy in hospital. He complained of the conditions to which he was subjected during the hospital visits, including the behaviour of the guards, and the fact that he had been chained to the hospital bed. Medical … Continue reading Mouisel v France: ECHR 14 Nov 2002
Three appeals raised issues about the way in which sex discrimination laws were to be applied for cases involving sexual orientation. Held: The court should start by asking what gave rise to the act complained of. In this case it was the sexual orientation of the first claimant. Discrimination for sexual orientation does not come … Continue reading MacDonald v Advocate General for Scotland (Scotland); Pearce v Governing Body of Mayfield School: HL 19 Jun 2003
The defendant claimed that he had gone absent without leave from the RAF as a conscientous objector. Held: The defendant had not demonstrated by complaint to the RAF that he did object to service in Iraq. In some circumstances where there was no procedure to make his objection known, the failure to do so might … Continue reading Khan v Royal Air Force Summary Appeal Court: Admn 7 Oct 2004
Depriving a Turkish Cypriot living in the Government-controlled area of Cyprus of the right to vote was a breach of article 3. However: ‘States enjoy considerable latitude to establish rules within their constitutional order governing . . the composition of the Parliament, and . . the relevant criteria may vary according to the historical and … Continue reading Aziz v Cyprus: ECHR 22 Jun 2004
The applicant sought judicial review of his cellular confinement after being found to have assaulted a prison guard. Held: Weatherup J said: ‘the loss of association or loss of privileges as a consequence of a prison adjudication do not constitute a breach of Article 8. First of all there must be a ‘right’ which has … Continue reading Graham, Re an Application for Judicial Review: QBNI 2 Apr 2004
The applicant had been sentenced to detention during Her Majesty’s Pleasure. He sought a judicial review of the Lord Chief Justice’s recommendation to the Home Secretary for the minimum term he was to serve. Held: In exercising this function, the LCJ was acting in a judicial capacity, and therefore his recommendation was not subject to … Continue reading Regina (on the Application of Dudson) v Secretary of State for the Home Department and the Lord Chief Justice: Admn 21 Nov 2003
The claimant and her son sought to visit her other son in Leeds Prison. He was suspected of involvement in drugs, and therefore she was subjected to strip searches. There was no statutory support for the search. The son’s penis had been touched which was a battery. Held: The policy considerations which limit the heads … Continue reading Wainwright and another v Home Office: HL 16 Oct 2003
Machinery was damaged whilst in transit, on the second of two legs. The contract described itself as a through bill of lading, but the port of discharge was not the final destination. Held: The contract was a straight bill of lading. A straight bill of lading requires delivery of the goods to the named consignee … Continue reading J I MacWilliam Co Inc v Mediterranean Shipping Company S A, “The Rafaela S”: CA 16 Apr 2003
The League challenged the respondent’s statement in the Prisons’ Handbook that children held in young offender institutions were not subject to the protection of the 1989 Act. Held: Neither the Prison Act and Rules excluded the Prison authorities from the list of those required to co-operate with local authorities in the exercise of their duties … Continue reading Regina (Howard League for Penal Reform) v Secretary of State for the Home Department: QBD 29 Nov 2002
(The High Court of Justiciary) The prosecution had accepted that the matter had been the subject of unreasonable delay, but wished to continue. The defendant sought a plea in bar, on the basis that continuing would infringe his rights. Held: Once it was accepted that the delay took the prosecution outside the defendant’s right to … Continue reading Regina v HM Advocate and The Advocate General for Scotland: PC 28 Nov 2002
The appellant had applied for leave to appeal to a single judge, who had refused the application. He appealed and was granted leave by two judges. He then objected when the single judge who had refused leave was included in the panel of judges to hear the substantive appeal. Held: There was no reason to … Continue reading Sengupta v Holmes and Others, Lord Chancellor intervening: CA 31 Jul 2002
The applicants were serving prisoners. They had been the subject of disciplinary proceedings in which they had been denied the right to representation. They claimed an infringement of their right to a fair trial. Held: Both proceedings had resulted in the extension of the respective prison sentences. The rules gave the governor discretion to allow … Continue reading Ezeh and Connors v The United Kingdom: ECHR 15 Jul 2002
A prisoner had been killed in his cell by a cell-mate known to be unstable and racist. His family sought to be involved in the inquiry into the death within the prison system. A second prisoner hanged himself in his cell. His family alleged that he should have been kept on suicide watch. The coroner … Continue reading Regina (Amin) v Secretary of State for the Home Department; Regina (Middleton) v Coroner for West Somersetshire: CA 27 Mar 2002
The Appellant had introduced a system of fining lorry drivers returning to the UK with illegal immigrants hiding away in their trucks. The rules had been found to be in breach of European law and an interference with their human rights. The penalties were substantial, though there existed a system of appeals. Held: The principle … Continue reading Secretary of State for the Home Department v International Transport Roth Gmbh and others: CA 22 Feb 2002
The appellants appealed their convictions on two grounds. First the judge who had heard the case was an acquaintance of the chief constable of the investigating force, and second evidence had been admitted of tape recordings of non-privileged conversations between defendants whilst in the police station. The Chief Constable had authorised the covert operation, and … Continue reading Mason, Wood, McClelland, Tierney v Regina: CACD 13 Feb 2002
Parties challenged the compliance of proceedings with the convention where there had been considerable delay. Held: The reasonable detention provision (article 5(3)) and the reasonable time requirement (article 6(1)) conferred free-standing rights, which could be broken notwithstanding absence of effect on the fairness of the trial. The threshold for delay was high, but once established … Continue reading Dyer v Watson and Burrows: PC 29 Jan 2002
A detained mental patient sought to challenge a decision by his RMO that he should receive anti-psychotic medication, despite his refusal to consent, and to challenge a certificate issued by the SOAD. Held: Where a mental patient sought to challenge by judicial review the imposition of treatment without his consent, it was open to the … Continue reading Regina (Wilkinson) v Broadmoor Special Hospital and Others: CA 22 Oct 2001
A dairy association complained of milk quota orders made with retrospective effect under domestic provisions. A regulation had been submitted in draft to the Conseil d’Etat, which had advised that a statute was necessary to give retrospective effect to the proposed new rules and had drafted a single clause bill which had been enacted as … Continue reading Procola v Luxembourg: ECHR 28 Sep 1995
ECJ (Judgment) Where national legislation is concerned with a situation which does not fall within the field of application of Community law, the Court cannot, in a reference for a preliminary ruling, give the interpretative guidance necessary for the national court to determine whether that national legislation is in conformity with the fundamental rights whose … Continue reading Kremzow v Republik Osterreich: ECJ 29 May 1997
The claimants sought a declaration that part of the Regulations were invalid, and an infringement of their human rights. The Regulations sought to exempt church schools from an obligation not to discriminate against homosexual teachers. Held: The Regulation was within the scope of the Directive. Though a member state had some freedom in implementing a … Continue reading Regina (Amicus etc) v Secretary of State for Trade and Industry: Admn 26 Apr 2004
The applicant claimed that proceedings under which he had been accused of fraud in dishonestly evading VAT liability were in reality criminal proceedings and that the minimum standards of a fair trial applied. Held: The characterisation under the rules of such proceedings as civil was a starting point only. The fact that no sanction of … Continue reading Han and Yau t/a Murdishaw Supper Bar, and Others v Commissioners of Customs and Excise: CA 3 Jul 2001
Two foreign nationals with leave to remain in this country committed serious crimes. The Secretary of State ordered their deportation. Held: Where the deportation of a foreigner following a conviction here, would conflict with his human rights, the court had to assess whether the, first, the objective could be achieved by some alternative, less interfering, … Continue reading Samaroo and Sezek v Secretary of State for the Home Department: CA 17 Jul 2001
(Bahamas) The applicants appealed against sentences of death, saying that the executions would be unlawful while there was a pending appeal to the OAS. Held: The appeals failed. The Bahamas was a member of the Organisation of American States, but the rules of that organisation had not been incorporated into its law. The planned execution … Continue reading Higgs and Mitchell v The Minister of National Security and others: PC 14 Dec 1999
The claimant had come to England as a child from Italy. As an adult, he was convicted of a sexual assault against his daughter, and after release from his prison sentence of five years, he now appealed against a deportation order, saying that the respondent had failed to take account of the length of time … Continue reading B v Secretary of State for Home Department: CA 18 May 2000
NATS had tendered unsuccessfully for a contract to provide air traffic control services at Gatrwick airport, and challenged the award. GAL denied that the Regulations applied and now sought disapplication of the automatic suspension from the award of contracts pending resolution. Held: The automatic suspension under the Regulations should not be lifted. The issue of … Continue reading NATS (Services) Ltd v Gatwick Airport Ltd and Another: TCC 2 Oct 2014
A challenge under article 5 to decisions about a prisoner’s treatment were misconceived in the context of the Secretary of State’s refusal to transfer a prisoner to open conditions with a view to improving his prospects of release: ‘[Article 5(4)] is not to do with how persons are treated while they were detained or where … Continue reading Regina v Home Secretary ex parte Gunn: CA 2000
Judges: Brooke LJ, Morison J Citations: [2001] EWHC Admin 178 Links: Bailii Statutes: Extradition Act 1989 12, European Convention on Human Rights Citing: See Also – Mohammad Fakhar Al Zaman Lodhi v The Governor of Brixton Prison, The Government of The United Arab Emirates Admn 9-Oct-2002 . . Cited by: See Also – Mohammad Fakhar … Continue reading Lodhi v Governor of HMP Brixton and Government of United Arab Emirates: Admn 13 Mar 2001
The court was asked whether a school was entitled to refuse to allow a Muslim girl to wear the niqab full face veil at school. The reasons were ‘first educational factors resulting from a teacher being unable to see the face of the girl with a niqab; second the importance of a uniform policy as … Continue reading X, Regina (on the Application of) v Y School: Admn 21 Feb 2007
The applicant sought review of a decision to remove him from a witness protection scheme within the prison. He claimed that having been promised protection, he had a legitimate expectation of protection, having been told he would receive protection while he was in prison. He had not eventually been relied upon as a witness. Held: … Continue reading Bloggs 61, Regina (on the Application of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department: CA 18 Jun 2003
