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, and the definition of that included a place where there was a reasonable expectation of privacy. The commission found it to be a public place. She sought to review their decision. The commission that it exercised a public function under the Act. On judicial review, the court was not to substitute its own decision for that of the executive. The human rights law might now require a more intensive review, when considering the proportionality of any interference with the subject’s rights of privacy. Nevertheless, the English courts will continue to defer to the views of bodies like the Commission even after the HRA. In this case also there had been a delay in applying for the review, and the application for leave to review was dismissed.
Judges:
The Honourable Mr. Justice Sibler
Citations:
[2001] EWHC Admin 683
Links:
Statutes:
Code of Practice of the Press Complaints Commission, Human Rights Act 1998 6
Jurisdiction:
England and Wales
Citing:
Cited – Regina (Yaser Mahmood) v Secretary of State for Home Department Admn 9-Aug-2001
The Home Secretary had served notice that the applicant was an illegal immigrant, and liable to deportation. An order had been made for the cross examination of the applicant. He had come to England to study, but soon dropped his immediate plans. He . .
Cited – Regina (Daly) v Secretary of State for the Home Department HL 23-May-2001
A prison policy requiring prisoners not to be present when their property was searched and their mail was examined was unlawful. The policy had been introduced after failures in search procedures where officers had been intimidated by the presence . .
Cited – Regina v Press Complaints Commission and Stewart-Brady (By Next Friend Kerr) CA 18-Nov-1996
Judicial review of a decision of the Press Complaints Commission was not appropriate. . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.
Media, Information, Judicial Review, Human Rights, Administrative
Updated: 01 June 2022; Ref: scu.159895