ECHR Judgment (Merits and just satisfaction) – Preliminary objection rejected; Violation of Art. 3; Not necessary to examine Art. 2; Not necessary to examine Art. 5-1; Violation of Art. 8; Violation of P1-1; Not necessary to examine Art. 6-1; Violation of Art. 13; No violation of Art. 14; No violation of Art. 18; Pecuniary damage … Continue reading Selauk and Asker v Turkey: ECHR 24 Apr 1998
The patient did not wish her nearest relative, namely her sister, to be involved with her case and there was evidence that she would be so distressed by the sister being consulted that it could harm her health. The sister likewise did not wish to become involved. Held: When an adult whose mental health is … Continue reading E, Regina (on the Application of) v Bristol City Council: Admn 13 Jan 2005
The appellant had requested the magistrates to state a case as to why they had ruled against his submission that he had no case to answer. The established rule is that they do not have to give such reasons. He argued that the new Human Rights duties required such reasons to be given to allow … Continue reading Moran v Director of Public Prosecutions: Admn 30 Jan 2002
Hudoc Judgment (Merits and just satisfaction) Violation of Art. 8 ; Non-pecuniary damage – finding of violation sufficient ; Costs and expenses partial award – Convention proceedingsThe applicant had been under investigation by the police. Whilst under arrest, his garage was fitted with a secret recording device, and the evidence gathered was later used against … Continue reading Hewitson v The United Kingdom: ECHR 27 May 2003
The applicant was a foreign national serving a long-term prison sentence. He complained that UK nationals would have had their case referred to the parole board before his. Held: The right to be referred to the parole board was a statutory right, which was not the same as an article 3 right to liberty and … Continue reading Secretary of State for the Home Department v Hindawi and Headley: CA 13 Oct 2004
The claimant sought increased maternity pay. Before beginning her maternity leave she had been awarded a pay increase, but it was not backdated so as to affect the period upon which the calculation of her average pay was based. The court made a detailed comparison of the regimes for protection under the Employment Rights Act … Continue reading Alabaster v Barclays Bank Plc and Another: CA 3 May 2005
The complainant requested information about the London Borough of Tower Hamlet’s responsibility for ensuring the protection of rights under the Human Rights Act 1998 is afforded to those nominated for tenancies. The London Borough of Tower Hamlets (the ‘Council’) said that it did not hold any information that would answer the request. The Information Commissioner … Continue reading Tower Hamlets Council (Decision Notice): ICO 11 Apr 2013
Maintenance assessment – whether ‘parent with care’ includes step-parent Human rights – application of Human Rights Act 1998 where Secretary of State’s decision before October 2000 and tribunal hearing afterwards Citations: [2002] UKSSCSC CCS – 1306 – 2001 Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: Cited – Regina v Kansal (2) HL 29-Nov-2001 The prosecutor … Continue reading R(CS) 6/03: SSCS 5 Nov 2002
The applicant entered the UK illegally. She was unwell and was given treatment. She resisted removal on the grounds that the treatment available to her would be of such a quality as to leave her life threatened. Held: D -v- UK should be strictly confined. The applicant’s condition was not one created by the respondent, … Continue reading N v the Secretary of State for the Home Department: CA 16 Oct 2003
The applicants sought to amend earlier pleadings to add a claim that their human rights had been infringed by the 1982 Act, which gave the respondents certain immunities. Held: The Human Rights Act 1998 was not retrospective. At the time when it should have been made, the amendment would have been doomed to failure by … Continue reading Laws and others v The Society of Lloyd’s: CA 19 Dec 2003
EAT Practice and Procedure – Application. The application had been presented timeously at the ET in Edinburgh, but was out of time when retransmitted to Glasgow. The tribunal had found the Edinburgh office to be an area office, and not a regional office and therefore the application was not accepted within the Regulations. The appellant … Continue reading Matheson v Mazars Solutions Ltd: EAT 16 Dec 2003
The magistrates had been taking a deposition, and ordered police officers to be excluded from court. Held: The witness sought not to have to answer questions on the ground that he would be incriminated by his answers. Magistrates should not accept a claim for privilege without investigation. It was insufficient also to accept that this … Continue reading Regina (Crown Prosecution Service, Greater Manchester) v Bolton Justices: QBD 31 Oct 2003
The respondent had been found to be unfairly dismissed. The appellants wished to appeal and sought disclosure of certain documents from the respondent’s solicitors. They now appealed against that refusal. Held: The appeal succeeded. The chairman had failed to give adequate reasons for the refusal, and indeed the order should have been made. The papers … Continue reading Sterlite Industries (India) Ltd v Bhatia: EAT 27 Mar 2003
In cases involving children, Article 3 provides that the best interests of the child are a primary consideration, not the primary consideration. The court looked at the test for making an interim ASBO: ‘Consideration of whether it is just to make an order without notice is necessarily a balancing exercise. The court must balance the … Continue reading Kenny, Regina (on the Application of) v Leeds Magistrates Court, Leeds City Council: Admn 5 Dec 2003
PC (Gibraltar) The system of selecting a criminal jury obliged men to be available for selection, but women could choose not to be on the role of jurors. The result was that jury lists and juries were almost entirely male. Held: (Majority) Since juries are chosen at random from jury lists, a non-discriminatory method of … Continue reading Pilar Aida Rojas v Brian Berllaque: PC 10 Nov 2003
Citations: [2003] EWHC 2479 (Admin) Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: Cited – Ghaidan v Godin-Mendoza HL 21-Jun-2004 Same Sex Partner Entitled to tenancy Succession The protected tenant had died. His same-sex partner sought a statutory inheritance of the tenancy. Held: His appeal succeeded. The Fitzpatrick case referred to the position before the … Continue reading Erskine, Regina (on the Application Of) v Lambeth and Another: Admn 14 Oct 2003
The claimant had sought relief for the injury to her health suffered by condition of her flat. The legal advisers had settled the matter, thinking that the claim had not been timeously served. The defendant appealed an order that the compromise was voidable, being based upon a common mistake of law. Held: ‘Courts should be … Continue reading Margaret Brennan v Bolt Burdon, London Borough of Islington, Leigh Day and Co: QBD 30 Oct 2003
The claimant council sought re-imbursement from the Secretary of the excess housing benefit payments it had made to claimants. The system expected the Council to have made referrals of high rents to rent officers. The respondent had decided that it had been a failure to make such referrals had led to the overpayments, and that … Continue reading Regina on the Application of Isle of Anglesey County Council v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: Admn 30 Oct 2003
The claimant was detained as a mental patient. He complained that a consultant employed by the NHS Trust which detained him, also sat on the panel of the tribunal which heard the review of his detention. Held: Such proceedings did engage the applicant’s right to a fair trial. The issue was whether a fair-minded and … Continue reading PD, Regina (on the Application of) v West Midlands and North West Mental Health Review Tribunal: Admn 22 Oct 2003
There had been a racist attack. The victim was set on fire and killed in the street by assailants. His relatives sought compensation. However the assailants were not agents of the state and they were duly prosecuted, convicted and sentenced. No blame attached to state authorities for the killing and no breach of the state’s … Continue reading Menson v United Kingdom: ECHR 6 May 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
The claimant’s child had died as a result of negligence in hospital. The parents had been told the result of police investigation and decision not to prosecute, and the hospital’s own investigation, but had not been sufficiently involved. There remained unresolved suspicions of negligence having been covered up. They had been refused legal aid to … Continue reading Khan, Regina (on the Application of) v Secretary of State for Health: CA 10 Oct 2003
A surviving same-sex partner sought a right of succession to a tenancy (of their previously shared flat). Interveners ‘pointed out that a growing number of national courts in European and other democratic societies require equal treatment of unmarried different-sex partners and unmarried same-sex partners, and that that view is supported by recommendations and legislation of … Continue reading Karner v Austria: ECHR 24 Jul 2003
While the applicant was serving a sentence for possession of obscene material, the 1997 Act came into force, requiring him to register with the police. It was argued that the passing of the Act and its impact on the offender involved a ‘penalty’ within the meaning of Article 7. The registration requirements applied automatically to … Continue reading Ibbotson v United Kingdom: ECHR 1998
The defendant had been sentenced for offences of violence, but an additional period was imposed to protect the public. He had been refused leave for reconsideration of that part of his sentence after he completed the normal segment of his sentence. He wanted a consideration which would parallel the new won rights of review for … Continue reading Giles, Regina (on the Application of) v Parole Board and Another: HL 31 Jul 2003
The applicant had been refused a licence to operate within the farmer’s market. It sought judicial review of the rejection, but the respondent argued that it was a private company not susceptible to review. Held: The decisions of the Farmers Market were open to judicial review. The farmers markets were held on publicly owned land … Continue reading Hampshire County Council v Beer (T/A Hammer Trout Farm); Regina (Beer) v Hampshire Farmers’ Market Ltd: CA 21 Jul 2003
The claimant was a mental patient under compulsory detention, and complained that he had been subjected to periods of seclusion. Held: The appeal succeeded. The hospital had failed to follow the appropriate Code of Practice. The Code was not obligatory, but following it would generally ensure that a patient’s rights were not infringed. It recognised … Continue reading Munjaz v Mersey Care National Health Service Trust And the Secretary of State for Health, the National Association for Mental Health (Mind) Respondent interested;: CA 16 Jul 2003
The claimant Reynolds challenged the differential treatment by age of jobseeker’s allowance. Carson complained that as a foreign resident pensioner, her benefits had not been uprated. The questions in each case were whether the benefit affected a ‘possession’ within the Convention or the discrimination was arbitrary so as to breach the applicants human rights. Held: … Continue reading Carson and Reynolds v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: CA 17 Jun 2003
The claimant had not received the same tax allowance following his wife’s death as would have been received by a woman surviving her husband. That law had been declared incompatible with Human Rtights law as discriminatory, but the respondent refused to make good any claim which had not been originally pursued to the European Court, … Continue reading Regina on the Application of Wilkinson v The Commissioners of Inland Revenue: CA 18 Jun 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 claimant had been arrested by an officer entering his house to investigate a breach of the peace, then held for two nights. The police believed that he posed no continuing threat, but believed he had to be brought before the magistrates before being released. Held: The fact that a breach of the peace had … Continue reading Williamson v Chief Constable of the West Midlands Police: CA 21 Feb 2003
The appellant’s son and two others had been shot dead by police officers. There remained considerable controversy over the circumstances. The matter had been taken to the ECHR which had found the enquiry inadequate. The parties now disputed the steps taken to give effect to that decision. The court held that the 1998 is not … Continue reading In re McKerr: CANI 10 Jan 2003
The court faced the question of, whether if a landlord serves a notice on an assured tenant under section 13(2) of the Act proposing an increase in rent, that will be the rent unless, before the beginning of the new period specified in the notice the tenant refers the notice to a rent assessment committee … Continue reading Regina on the Application of Lester v The London Rent Assessment Committee: CA 12 Mar 2003
PC (The High Court of Justiciary) The minuter challenged the role of the legal adviser to the district courts in Scotland, and as to his independence. Held: The legal adviser was not subject to the same system of appointments as the justices. However the system provided for a right of appeal (section 175) on questions … Continue reading Clark (Procurator Fiscal, Kirkcaldy) v Kelly: PC 11 Feb 2003
(Opinion) The applicants challenged the introduction of restrictions of hunting by foxes, arguing that the law would infringe their human rights. Held: The Act was not infringing. Fox hunting as such was not a private activity protected by the Convention, and the interference with property rights was justified by the balancing interest of preventing cruelty … Continue reading Adams and Others v Lord Advocate: IHCS 31 Jul 2002
The applicants were subject to removal directions following the failures of their applications for asylum had failed. The decisions were made before the Human Rights Act came into effect, but the direction orders were made afterwards. They sought to challenge the directions on Human Rights grounds. Held: They had a right of appeal since the … Continue reading Regina (on the Application of Kanagasingham Kariharan and Kanagara) v Secretary of State for the Home Office: CA 30 Jul 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
Save in cases involving children and ancillary and other situations requiring it, cases in the family division were not inherently private. The appellant failed to obtain an order that details of an action under the section should not be disclosed by the media. Held: The description of the law at first instance was too wide … Continue reading Allan v Clibbery (1): CA 30 Jan 2002
This case raises, among other matters, an issue about whether reasons for a restricted patient’s recall to detention in a hospital have to be provided orally or in writing. Judges: Dingemans Citations: [2013] EWHC 1784 (Admin), [2015] 2 WLR 256, [2015] 1 QB 385 Links: Bailii Statutes: Mental Health Act 1983 42(3), Human Rights Act … Continue reading Lee-Hirons, Regina (on The Application of) v Secretary of State for Justice and Another: Admn 28 Jun 2013
The claimant had sought to amend her claim for damages for personal injuries. The application had been rejected as introducing a claim not based on the same facts. She had suffered severe head injuries, and had no memory of the accident. She served a statement of claim based upon the defendant’s statement. The defendants defence … Continue reading Goode v Martin: CA 13 Dec 2001
Hudoc Judgment (Merits and just satisfaction) Violation of Art. 6-1; Non-pecuniary damage – financial award; Costs and expenses – claim rejected Citations: [1998] ECHR 105, 27916/95 Links: Worldlii, Bailii Jurisdiction: Human Rights Human Rights Updated: 04 June 2022; Ref: scu.165687
Hudoc Judgment (Just satisfaction) Pecuniary damage – claim rejected; Non-pecuniary damage – financial award; Costs and expenses award – Convention proceedings; Costs and expenses award – domestic proceedings Citations: [1998] ECHR 15, 12718/87 Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: Human Rights Citing: Cited – Clooth v Belgium ECHR 12-Dec-1991 Hudoc Violation of Art. 5-3; Just satisfaction reserved . … Continue reading Clooth v Belgium (Article 50): ECHR 5 Mar 1998
Hudoc Judgment (Merits and just satisfaction) Violation of Art. 11; Not necessary to examine Art. 9; Not necessary to examine Art. 10; Not necessary to examine Art. 14; Not necessary to examine Art. 18; Not necessary to examine P1-1; Not necessary to examine P1-3; Pecuniary damage – claim rejected; Non-pecuniary damage – finding of violation … Continue reading The United Communist Party of Turkey And Others v Turkey: ECHR 30 Jan 1998
In some fields of law legal rules may not be laid down with total precision. Undue delay in child contact proceedings may have irreversible effects upon the child. Citations: [1998] ECHR 46, 22430/93, (1998) 33 EHRR 81 Links: Worldlii, Bailii Cited by: Cited – Gillan, Regina (on the Application of) v Commissioner of Police for … Continue reading Bronda v Italy: ECHR 9 Jun 1998
The claimant, who was disabled, said that his Article 8 rights were infringed because, in breach of Italian law, there were no facilities to enable him to get to the sea when he went on holiday. Held: ‘Private life . . includes a person’s physical and psychological integrity; the guarantee afforded by Article 8 of … Continue reading Botta v Italy: ECHR 24 Feb 1998
Hudoc Judgment (Merits and just satisfaction) Violation of Art. 6-1; Pecuniary damage – financial award; Non-pecuniary damage – financial award; Costs and expenses partial award – Convention proceedings Citations: [1998] ECHR 32, 26256/95, [1998] ECHR 32 Links: Worldlii, Bailii Human Rights Updated: 04 June 2022; Ref: scu.165619
Hudoc Judgment (Merits and just satisfaction) Violation of Art. 6-1 (access to court); Violation of Art. 6-1 (length of proceedings); Non-pecuniary damage – financial award; Pecuniary damage – financial award Citations: [1998] ECHR 104, 38212/97 Links: Worldlii, Bailii Jurisdiction: Human Rights Human Rights Updated: 04 June 2022; Ref: scu.165685
The restriction on local government officers and other against some political activities were not an infringement of their human rights and fell within the requirements for free expression and for free elections‘The Court recalls that in its above-mentioned Vogt judgment (pp. 25-26, – 52) it articulated as follows the basic principles laid down in its … Continue reading Ahmed And Others v The United Kingdom: ECHR 2 Sep 1998
The court had no jurisdiction to consider allegations not raised before the commission or predating a country’s accession to the convention. There was no breach in a failure to record an exposure to radiation in a test. Article 2 imposes substantive obligations not to take life without justification and to establish a framework of laws, … Continue reading LCB v The United Kingdom: ECHR 9 Jun 1998
Hudoc Judgment (Merits and just satisfaction) Violation of Art. 6-1; Costs and expenses partial award – Convention proceedings Citations: [1998] ECHR 63, 24767/94 Links: Worldlii, Bailii Human Rights Updated: 04 June 2022; Ref: scu.165649
Mr De Castro had been the target of an unwarranted, unauthorised, unsupervised police operation in which undercover officers incited him to supply drugs. He challenged a conviction for trafficking in heroin, based mainly on statements of two police officers. Held: The necessary inference from the circumstances was that these officers had ‘exercised an influence such … Continue reading Teixeira De Castro v Portugal: ECHR 9 Jun 1998
ECHR Judgment (Merits and just satisfaction) Preliminary objection rejected (non-exhaustion); Violation of Art. 6-1; Violation of P1-1; Not necessary to examine Art. 8; Not necessary to examine Art. 13; Pecuniary damage – financial award; Non-pecuniary damage – financial award; Costs and expenses award – domestic proceedings; Costs and expenses award – Convention proceedings Citations: [1998] … Continue reading Vasilescu v Romania: ECHR 22 May 1998
ECHR Judgment (Merits and just satisfaction) Violation of Art. 6-1; Pecuniary damage – claim rejected; Non-pecuniary damage – financial award; Costs and expenses award – domestic proceedings Citations: [1998] ECHR 34, 31648/96 Links: Worldlii, Bailii Human Rights Updated: 04 June 2022; Ref: scu.165617
ECHR Judgment (Merits and just satisfaction) Violation of Art. 6-1; Non-pecuniary damage – financial award; Costs and expenses award – domestic proceedings Citations: [1998] ECHR 33, 32305/96 Links: Worldlii, Bailii Human Rights Updated: 04 June 2022; Ref: scu.165618
The presumption of innocence is one of the elements of the fair criminal trial required by article 6(1). Judgment (Merits and just satisfaction) Preliminary objection rejected (non-exhaustion); No violation of Art. 6-1; No violation of Art. 6-2 Citations: [1998] ECHR 31, 22885/93, (1998) 30 EHRR 808 Links: Worldlii, Bailii Cited by: Cited – Sheldrake v … Continue reading Bernard v France: ECHR 23 Apr 1998
An allegation of violence by a police officer did require a thorough, impartial and careful investigation by a suitable and independent state authority: ‘The court considers that in these circumstances, where an individual raises an arguable claim that he has been seriously ill treated by the police or other such agents of the State unlawfully … Continue reading Assenov and Others v Bulgaria: ECHR 28 Oct 1998
Hudoc Judgment (Merits and just satisfaction) Preliminary objection rejected (victim); Preliminary objection rejected (non-exhaustion); No violation of Art. 2; Violation of Art. 2 (effective investigation); Violation of Art. 13; Not necessary to examine Art. 10; Not necessary to examine Art. 14; Not necessary to examine Art. 18; Non-pecuniary damage – financial award; Costs and expenses … Continue reading Yasa v Turkey: ECHR 2 Sep 1998
(Grand Chamber) The applicants lived about 1km from a chemical factory which produced fertilizers and other chemicals and was classified as ‘high risk’ in criteria set out by Presidential Decree. Held: Failure by a government to release to an affected population details of known pollution risks could amount to breach of their human rights: ‘The … Continue reading Guerra and Others v Italy: ECHR 19 Feb 1998
(Preliminary objections) The ECHR considered the situation in northern Cyprus when it was asked as to Turkey’s preliminary objections to admissibility: ‘although Article 1 sets limits on the reach of the Convention, the concept of ‘jurisdiction’ under this provision is not restricted to the national territory of the High Contracting Parties. According to its established … Continue reading Loizidou v Turkey: ECHR 23 Mar 1995
The complainant had been photographed wearing a bikini, whilst on holiday by a photographer using a long lens. She had been on a quiet part of public beach. She complained to the Press Complaints Commission who rejected her complaint. The rules required press not to use such tactics when the subject was on private property, … Continue reading Regina on the Application of Anna Ford v The Press Complaints Commission: Admn 31 Jul 2001
(Antigua and Barbuda) The applicant was employed as a civil servant. He joined a demonstration alleging corruption in a minister. It was alleged he had infringed his duties as a civil servant, and he replied that the constitution allowed him to speak out. Held: The demonstration did contravene the restriction on publishing his views. Analogies … Continue reading De Freitas v The Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Lands and Housing and others: PC 30 Jun 1998
It is a well recognised canon of construction that domestic legislation, including the Constitution, should if possible be construed so as to conform to international instruments to which the state is party. Lord Hoffmann said: ‘of course persons should be uniformly treated unless there is some valid reason to treat them differently . . The … Continue reading Matadeen and others v M G C Pointu and others (Mauritius): PC 18 Feb 1998
(Jamaica) A five year delay in execution is excessive, and can itself amount to inhuman or degrading punishment. ‘There is an instinctive revulsion against the prospect of hanging a man after he has been held under sentence of death for many years. What gives rise to this instinctive revulsion? The answer can only be our … Continue reading Pratt and Morgan v The Attorney General for Jamaica and Another: PC 2 Nov 1993
A tenancy which had been terminated by a notice given by one of the joint tenants had expired. It did not come to an end by any deed, and so was not capable of being set aside by a family court in the course of divorce proceedings. The possession proceedings issued by the landlord could … Continue reading Newlon Housing Trust v Alsulaimen and Another: HL 29 Jul 1998
The applicant sought the leasehold enfranchisement of two leasehold properties. They were contained in separate leases, but the property had been treated as one for some time. A part of one property extended under part of the other. The claim was resisted on the basis that there was more than one building as required by … Continue reading Malekshad v Howard De Walden Estates Limited: CA 23 May 2001
The applicants sought orders that their human rights had been infringed by the conditions of their detention at police stations. One asserted that he had not had opportunity to speak to his solicitor on the phone in private, and the other complained that the arrangements did not guarantee privacy. The court rejected the claims on … Continue reading Regina (M (a Minor)) v Commissioner of Police; Regina (La Rose) v Same: QBD 13 Jul 2001
There has been no change to the rule that a judge refusing leave to appeal from an arbitration award, need not give his reasons. The rationale is that the question is a threshold one, of whether a particular standard had been reached. It was not a situation where a detailed examination was to be undertaken, … Continue reading Mousaka Inc v Golden Seagull Maritime Inc: QBD 30 Jul 2001
The court was asked whether the processes by which the Secretary of State for the Environment Transport and the Regions (SSETR) makes decisions under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (TCPA) and orders under the Transport and Works Act 1992 (TWA), the Highways Act 1980 (HA) and the Acquisition of Land Act 1981 (ALA) … Continue reading Regina (Holding and Barnes Plc) v Secretary of State for Environment, Transport and Regions; Regina (Premier Leisure UK Limited) v Secretary of State for Environment, Transport and Regions; Regina (Alconbury) etc: Admn 13 Dec 2000
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
Hudoc Judgment (Merits and just satisfaction) Violation of Art. 6-1; Non-pecuniary damage – financial award; Costs and expenses award – Convention proceedings. Citations: 25549/94, [1998] ECHR 47 Links: Worldlii, Bailii Jurisdiction: Human Rights Human Rights Updated: 28 May 2022; Ref: scu.165638
It is not sufficient for an authority to discharge its duty under the Act by writing letters to those affected or potentially affected and offering them reassessment. Carnwath J said: ‘In some areas of the law that might be an adequate response, where those affected can be assumed to be capable of looking after their … Continue reading Regina v Gloucestershire County Council ex parte Radar: Admn 1998
Citations: [1998] EWHC Admin 1056 Links: Bailii Statutes: Bail Act 1976 4(1) Human Rights, Criminal Practice Updated: 27 May 2022; Ref: scu.139177
The prisoner had been sentenced to an extended term of five years imprisonment for indecent assault. He had been released, and then recalled for alleged breaches of his licence. The respondent appealed findings that such a recall was subject to article 5, and that his release would be mandatory under s44A(b) if his continued detention … Continue reading Regina (Sim) v Parole Board: CA 18 Dec 2003
The claimant objected to the retention of data about him as to his attendance at assorted political protests. He had not engaged in criminality. Judges: Gross LJ, Irwin J Citations: [2012] EWHC 1471 (Admin), [2012] HRLR 23 Links: Bailii Statutes: European Convention on Human Rights 8, Data Protection Act 1998 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited … Continue reading Catt v The Commissioner of Police of The Metropolis: Admn 30 May 2012
Speciality protection requirement satisfied by undertaking for re-surrender given by Hong Kong Chief Executive, despite excess time on bail. For the purposes of a challenge to extradition under domestic law, an applicant for habeas corpus is to be treated as effectively in custody. Judges: Simon Brown LJ, Mance J Citations: Gazette 18-Mar-1998, [1998] EWHC Admin … Continue reading Regina v Secretary of State for the Home Department ex parte Launder: QBD 18 Mar 1998
Where a party applied to court for an ex parte order, counsel had direct duties to the court, and also the supporting legal team and clients had continuing and overlapping duties. There was little to be gained by trying to analyze these things too closely to apportion blame. Here counsel had applied to and misadvised … Continue reading Memory Corporation v Sidhu (No 2): CA 3 Dec 1999
The claimant sought judicial review of the decision made by TfL not to allow an advertisement on behalf of the Trust to appear on the outside of its buses. It was to read: ‘NOT GAY! EX-GAY, POST-GAY AND PROUD. GET OVER IT!’. The decision was said to be based on the resondent’s policies. The respondent … Continue reading Core Issues Trust v Transport for London: Admn 22 Mar 2013
The mother had been given leave by the Recorder to remove a ten month old girl permanently from the jurisdiction to the United States in circumstances where the mother`s job prospects were better in New York than in England. The father, (in person) raised the question of a breach of his right under Article 8(1). … Continue reading In re A (permission to remove child from jurisdiction: human rights): CA 2000
The prisoner complained that having written an autobiography, the manuscript materials had been withheld, and that this interfered with his rights of freedom of expression. Held: Such an action by the prison authorities was not incompatible with the prisoner’s rights. The materials were not privileged, but were intended for publication contrary to the standing orders. … Continue reading Nilsen, Regina (on the Application of) v Governor of HMP Full Sutton and Another: Admn 19 Dec 2003
A homosexual claimed that an award of custody of his daughter to her mother was an unjustified interference with his right to respect for family life, and also with his right to respect for his private life since he was required in respect of his right of access to his daughter to conceal from her … Continue reading Salgueiro da Silva Mouta v Portugal: ECHR 1 Dec 1998
The claimant had been convicted at trial, and release after a successful appeal but after considerable time in jail. He now comlained of the judge’s conduct at trial saying that misdirections amounted to bad faith. Held: The claim failed. Mitting J said: ‘If I were to attempt a partial definition of bad faith, it would … Continue reading Webster v Ministry of Justice: QBD 23 Oct 2014
The status of the prohibition on State torture as a rule of jus cogens has the consequence that at the inter-State level, any legislative, administrative or judicial act authorising torture is illegitimate. Furthermore, the prohibition on State torture imposes obligations owed by States erga omnes, to all other States which have a corresponding right and … Continue reading Prosecutor v Furundzija: ICT 10 Dec 1998
It is within a nation’s margin of appreciation to refuse to re-register birth details of people who had undergone sex-changes. Similarly it was not a human rights infringement not to allow post operative trans-sexuals to marry. However the court was critical of the United Kingdom’s apparent failure to take any steps to keep this area … Continue reading Sheffield and Horsham v The United Kingdom: ECHR 30 Jul 1998
At the trial of a substantive claim for declarations of property rights in the context of confiscation proceedings under the 1986 Act, two interested parties sought to dismissal or stay of the claims dismissed for delay. The proceedings went back to arrests and orders in 1993. Reliance was placed upon Article 6 of the ECHR. … Continue reading Crown Prosecution Service v Bentham: Admn 2003
(Admissibility) The claimant was a prisoner who had been confined to her cell, unlawfully it was said, for some two hours. The evidence was that she was a heroin addict who objected to that restriction on her residual liberty. Held: ‘It is undisputed in the present case that Angela Bollan was lawfully detained in Corton … Continue reading Bollan v United Kingdom: ECHR 1998
The claimant appealed refusal of special leave to remain here after refusal of his application for asylum. Held: In view of the new material before the court it was not unarguable that the Secretary of State had not properly considered the material before him. Leave was given on that point only, and the case adjourned … Continue reading Regina v Secretary of State for Home Department ex parte Turgut: CA 27 Oct 1998
The appellant sought exceptional leave to remain, having been refused asylum. Held: The issue concerned a Turkish citizen seeking asylum because he feared persecution if he was returned to Turkey, in being a Kurdish draft evader likely to be imprisoned and so subject to torture. ‘The authorities and Courts will view such claims with great … Continue reading Regina v Secretary of State for Home Department ex parte Abdullah Turgut: Admn 22 May 1998
The court has a discretion to refuse to accept written evidence from a witness abroad who had refused to come here for fear of reprisals, and particularly so where the prosecution had failed to take advantage of procedures which would have allowed the defence to cross examine the witness. Citations: Times 07-Oct-1998 Statutes: European Convention … Continue reading Regina v Radak; Regina v Adjei; Regina v Butler-Rees; Regina v Meghjee: CACD 7 Oct 1998
Immediately after a child was born, the social worker began proceedings for it to be taken into care. The judge severely criticised the actions of the social worker before the birth. The local authority now appealed against an order at the conclusion of care proceedings that they should pay each parent damages in the sum … Continue reading In re V (a Child) (Care: pre-birth actions): CA 12 Oct 2004
The applicant had sought a student loan to support his studies as a mature student. It was refused because he would be over 55 at the date of the commencement of the course. He claimed this was discriminatory. Held: The Convention required the state not to prevent access to education, not a duty to subsidise … Continue reading Douglas v North Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council: CA 19 Dec 2003
The house was asked whether it might be correct to stay criminal proceedings as an abuse where for delay. The defendants were prisoners in a prison riot in 1998. The case only came on for trial in 2001, when they submitted that the delay was an abuse. Held: The defendants had a right to a … Continue reading Attorney-General’s Reference (No 2 of 2001): HL 11 Dec 2003
Housing benefit regulations had been found unlawful and were amended. The Court now considered what payments should have been made before the amendments came into effect. Held: The appeal was allowed, and RR’s housing benefit entitlement is to be recalculated without making the under-occupancy deduction of 14%. There is nothing unconstitutional about a public authority, … Continue reading RR v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: SC 13 Nov 2019
Citations: (1998) 25 EHRR CD130, X Jurisdiction: Human Rights Cited by: Cited – Wright and Others, Regina (on the Application of) v Secretary of State for Health and Another HL 21-Jan-2009 The claimants had been provisionally listed as ‘people considered unsuitable to work with vulnerable adults’ which meant that they could no longer work, but … Continue reading Stefan v United Kingdom: ECHR 1998
The husband appealed against his committal for contempt of a court order in family proceedings. The court had heard the wife’s application for his committal at the same time as his application for contact with the children. Held: The appeal was allowed. The judge had erred. He did not enquire as to why legal aid … Continue reading Hammerton v Hammerton: CA 23 Mar 2007
The provisions of section 68 were punitive, and therefore could not be read to have retrospective effect. Citations: [2003] EWCA Crim 1011 Statutes: Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 68, European Convention on Human Rights 6 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: Cited – Ibbotson v United Kingdom ECHR 1998 While the applicant was serving … Continue reading Regina v JT: CACD 2003
The applicant had been convicted of contempt of court, but succeeded on appeal. Costs had been ordered in his favour, but the matter had been referred back to the court to consider the extent of its powers on such an occasion. Held: The making of an award of costs from central funds might be available … Continue reading Regina v Moore: CACD 12 May 2003
An application to extradite a former head of state for an offence which was not at the time an offence under English law would fail, but could proceed in respect of allegations of acts after that time. No immunity was intended for heads of state. International law prohibiting torture has the character of jus cogens … Continue reading Regina v Bartle and Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis and Others, ex parte Pinochet Ugarte; Regina v Evans and Similar (No 3): HL 24 Mar 1999
The parents had married under shariah law. They left the US to return to the father’s home country Saudi Arabia. They parted, and the mother brought their son to England against the father’s wishes and in breach of an agreement. The father sought his summary return to Saudi Arabia, a non-Convention country. Held: The appeal … Continue reading Re J (A Child), Re (Child returned abroad: Convention Rights); (Custody Rights: Jurisdiction): HL 16 Jun 2005
Morland J said: ‘it is the duty of the courts to keep claims alleging trade libels within their proper bounds, particularly having regard to s.12(4) of the Human Rights Act 1998 and Article 10 of the Convention.’ Judges: Morland J Citations: [2003] EWHC 1099 Statutes: European Convention on Human Rights 10, Human Rights Act 1998 … Continue reading Charterhouse Clinical Research Unit Ltd v Richmond Pharmacology Ltd: QBD 2003
The authority had carried out an inquiry into its handling of an application for a care order. It sought to restrain republication of the report. Held: There were competing requirements under the Convention. Any jurisdiction to restrain publication must be exercised in such circumstances only to protect the children involved. The scope to act for … Continue reading In re a local authority (Inquiry: restraint on publication); A Local Authority v A Health Authority and A: FD 27 Nov 2003
