Article 5 Flashcards
(43 cards)
Article 5
The right to liberty ad security of person, no one shall be deprived of his liberty save in the following cases and in procedure prescribed by law. The ECHR has explained that the aim of this right is to prevent any arbitrary deprivation of liberty, this means anything illegal, unnecessary, disproportionate or without reason
Interference?
This is a limited right and cannot be interfered with by the state unless allowed under subjection a-f or the state derogates.
Arbitrary detention
People have a right not to be arbitrarily detained by the state.
What historical right does this link to?
Magna Carta 1215- the right not to be imprisoned without trial- Habeas Corpus.
Positive obligation (security)
The right to security places a positive obligation on the state to explain when a person has been detained and the procedural safeguards in place.
Section 5(1)
Everyone has the right to liberty and security of person. No one shall be deprived his liberty save in the following cases and in accordance with the procedure prescribed by law
exception a
-a) the lawful detention of a person after conviction by a competent court
exception b
-b) the lawful arrest or detention of a person for non compliance with the lawful order of a court or in order to secure the fulfilment of any obligation prescribed by the law
exception c
-c) the lawful arrest or detention of a person effected for the purpose of bringing him before the competent legal authority on reasonable suspicion of having committed an offense or when it is reasonably considered necessary to prevent his committing an offense or fleeing after having done so.
exception d,e and f
d) the detention of a minor by lawful order for the purpose of educational supervision or his lawful detention for the purpose of bringing him before a competent legal authority.
e) the lawful detention of persons for the prevention of the spreading of infectious diseases, of persons of unsound mind, alcoholics, drug addicts or vagrants.
f) the lawful arrest or detention of a person to prevent his effecting an unauthorised entry into a country or of a person against whom action is taken with a view to deportation or extradition.
Section 5(2)
Everyone who is arrested shall be informed promptly, in a language which he or she understands, of the reasons for his arrest or any charge against him.
Section 5(3)
Everyone arrested or detained in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 1(c) of this article shall be brought promptly before a judge or other officer authorised by law to exercise judicial power and shall be entitled to trial within a reasonable time or to release pending trial. Release may be conditioned by guarantees to appear in trial.
Section 5(4)
Everyone who is deprived of his liberty by arrest or detention shall be entitled to take proceedings by which the lawfulness of his detention shall be decided speedily by a court and his released ordered if the deprivation is not lawful.
Section 5(5)
Everyone who has been the victim of an arrest or detention in contravention of this article shall have enforceable rights and compensation.
Which case illustrates that a person must be deprived of their liberty , merely restricting a persons liberty may not always be considered a deprivation.
Guzzardi v Italy (1981)
Guzzardi was suspected of being in the mafia. He was ordered to live on an island with limited contact with others and under curfew. The court decided that this was more than a restriction of liberty under 5(1). The decision was based on the degree of intensity. The court gave a list of what could be considered, ‘type, duration, effects and manor of importation of the matter in question.
Case to illustrate law on deprivation during a protest.
Austin and ors v UK
The police used a technique known as kettling during a protest in London where protesters are blocked into a small area and gradually released over a number of hours. It was held by the HOL and later the ECHR that this did not constitute a deprivation as police were justified in doing this to prevent violence, damage or injury. This decision was widely criticised. Critics say for kettling to be considered justified it must fall into the categories of 5(1)a-f.
Case to illustrate law on the deprivation of liberty during a riot.
R (Moos) v metropolitan police commissioner (201)
The high court ruled that kettling of the G20 protestors was unlawful however the CoA decided that the police had acted lawfully. They ruled the police had no arbitrary power to kettle people but it should be used as a last resort when the is evidence of an imminent breach of the peace.
Case to illustrate the law about deprivation whilst in care
Cheshire West and Chester Council v P (2014)
P has Cerebral Palsy and Down syndrome. He was moved to a home offering 24 hour care. The court of fist instance decided that it was a deprivation of his liberty, but in his best interests. CoA held no deprivation by the SC held he was deprived of his liberty. The deprivation was based n the fact that the applicant was ‘under continuous control and not free to leave.’ This creates an objective test. SC held capacity or disability or persons compliance is not relevant.
Case to illustrate the law about deprivation whilst in care
JE v DE and Surrey County Council
JE was the wife of DE who had suffered a stroke, was blind and had dementia. DE voluntarily voluntarily moved into the first care home by his wife and taken to another care home a year later. His wife claimed this was a deprivation of liberty because he did not have the freedom to leave. ECHR held that it was a deprivation.
A case to illustrate the law regarding deprivation and mentally disordered patients.
Winterwerp v Netherlands (1979)
Detention can only be justified if:
-patient has a medically recognised condition established by a medical expert
-the disorder must be sufficient to justify the detention
-detention should only be for the duration that the disorder exists.
-detention must be at an appropriate institution
-the detention must be periodically reviewed.
What are the three types of stops that the police can do?
stop and question
stop and account
stop and search
Outline a stop and question
If the police stop and question a person they are free to refuse to answer (unless they are under arrest). In Rice v Connolly (1966) the suspect would not answer questions when acting suspiciously in an area that had suffered some burglaries. His conviction for ‘obstructing a police officer in the execution of his duty’ was quashed. However in Ricketts v Cox (1982) the suspect was very abusive and hostile when questioned, he was held guilty of ‘obstructing a police officer I the execution of his duty’.
Stop and account
The police can ask someone to stop and account for their behaviour, action or presence in an area or possession of anything. All stops must be recorded, and a copy given to the person stopped. A record does not need to be made if a police officer is asking general questions like directions.
Stop and search
This police power includes the ability to stop and question a suspect if necessary search the person and their vehicle. The strict rules for stop and search are contained in s.1 Police and Criminal Evidence Act (1984) and supplemented in Code A. There is also additional powers in s60 Criminal Justice and Public Orders Act (1994) and s.44 Terrorism Act 2000.