This textbook comprehensively examines and analyses the interpretation and application of the United Kingdom's Human Rights Act 1998. The third edition has been fully updated to include the last seven years of case law.

Part I covers key procedural issues including: the background to the Act; the relationship between UK courts and the European Court of Human Rights; the definition of victim and public authority; determining incompatibility including deference and proportionality; the impact of the Act on primary legislation; and damages and other remedies for the violation of Convention rights.

In Part II of the book, the Convention rights, as interpreted and applied by United Kingdom courts, are examined in detail. All of the key Convention rights are discussed including: the right to life; freedom from torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; the right to liberty; fair trial; the rights to private life, family life and home; freedom of religion and belief; freedom of expression; the right to peaceful enjoyment of possessions; and the right to freedom from discrimination in the enjoyment of Convention rights.

The third edition of Human Rights Law will be invaluable for those teaching, studying and practising in the areas of United Kingdom human rights law, constitutional law and administrative law.

PART I
THE HUMAN RIGHTS ACT
1. Background and Interpretation
1. The Protection of Human Rights Prior to the Human Rights Act
2. Background to the Human Rights Act
3. Purpose of the Human Rights Act
4. Structure of the Human Rights Act
5. Convention Rights given Further Effect
6. Principles of Interpretation
7. UK Courts and the European Court of Human Rights
8. Other Aids to Interpretation
9. The Protection of Human Rights via the Common Law and EU Law
10. Reform of the Human Rights Act

2. The Benefit and Burden of the Human Rights Act
1. Introduction
2. The Benefit of Convention Rights: Victims
3. The Burden of Convention Rights: Public Authorities
4. Core Public Authorities
5. Hybrid Public Authorities
6. Private Bodies

3. The 'Acts' to which the Human Rights Act Applies
1. Introduction
2. Limitation Period
3. Retrospective Effect
4. Acts which Occur Outside of the United Kingdom: Extra-territorial Effect
5. Failure to Act: Positive Duties
6. Satellite Litigation

4. Determining Incompatibility
1. Introduction
2. Prescribed by Law
3. Necessary
4. Proportionality
5. Deference
6. Deference in Practice

5. The Defence of Primary Legislation
1. Introduction
2. Section 6(2) Human Rights Act
3. Section 3 Human Rights Act
4. Section 4 Human Rights Act
5. Subordinate (Secondary) Legislation
6. The Use of Hansard and Other Materials in Compatibility Cases
7. Section 19 Human Rights Act: Statements of Compatibility

6. Remedies
1. Introduction
2. Just and Appropriate
3. Effective
4. The Power to Award Damages
5. Court Must have the Power to Award Damages
6. Just Satisfaction
7. The Principles Applied by the European Court of Human Rights
8. The Level of Damages
9. Damages: Article 2
10. Damages: Article 3
11. Damages: Article 5
12. Damages: Article 6
13. Damages: Article 8
14. Damages: Article 14

PART II
THE CONVENTION RIGHTS
7. Article 2: The Right to Life
1. Introduction
2. Scope
3. Definition of 'Life'
4. Intentional Deprivation of Life
5. The Positive Duty to Safeguard Life – Operational Duty
6. Positive Duty to Safeguard Life – Framework Duty
7. Duty to Investigate Deaths
8. Exceptions – Article 2(2)

8. Article 3: Prohibition of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
1. Introduction
2. Inhuman or Degrading Treatment – Severity
3. The Positive Duty to Protect from Article 3 Ill-Treatment – Operational Duty
4. Positive Duty to Protect from Article 3 Ill-Treatment – Framework Duty
5. Duty to Investigate Article 3 Ill-Treatment
6. Physical Integrity
7. Conditions of Detention and Treatment of Detainees
8. Violence and Threatening Behaviour
9. Sentencing
10. State Support
11. Removal, Deportation and Extradition

9. Article 5: The Right to Liberty and Security
1. Introduction
2. What Constitutes a Deprivation of Liberty?
3. Article 5(1)
4. Article 5(2): Reasons for Arrest
5. Article 5(3)
6. Article 5(4)
7. Article 5(5): Enforceable Right to Compensation

10. Article 6: The Right to a Fair Trial
1. Introduction
2. Removal, Deportation and Extradition
3. Article 6(1) Application: Determination of Civil Rights and Obligations
4. Article 6(1) Application: Determination of Any Criminal Charge
5. Access to Court
6. Fair Hearing
7. Public Hearing and Public Pronouncement
8. Reasonable Time
9. Independent and Impartial Tribunal
10. Tribunal Established by Law
11. Article 6(2): Presumption of Innocence
12. Article 6(3)(a): Informed of the Nature and Cause of the Accusation
13. Article 6(3)(b): Adequate Time and Facilities for Preparation of Defence
14. Article 6(3)(c): Legal Assistance
15. Article 6(3)(d): Witnesses
16. Article 6(3)(e): Interpreter

11. Article 8: The Right to Respect for Private Life
1. Introduction
2. Who Must Respect Private Life? The Development of Tort Law
3. Private Life
4. Positive Duties
5. Permitted Interferences
6. National Security
7. Economic Well-being of the Country
8. Prevention of Disorder or Crime
9. Protection of Health
10. Protection of Morals
11. Protection of the Rights and Freedoms of Others

12. Article 8: The Right to Respect for Family Life
1. Introduction
2. Family Life
3. Interference
4. Permitted Interferences
5. Economic Well-being of the Country
6. Prevention of Disorder or Crime
7. Protection of the Rights and Freedoms of Others

13. Article 8: The Right to Respect for Home
1. Introduction
2. Home
3. Interference
4. Positive Duties
5. Justifying an Interference with the Right to Respect for Home
6. For the Prevention of Disorder or Crime
7. Economic Well-being of the Country
8. Protection of the Rights and Freedoms of Others

14. Article 9: Freedom of Thought, Conscience and Religion
1. Introduction
2. The Right to Believe
3. The Right to Manifest
4. Interference with Manifestation of Belief
5. Permitted Interferences with the Right to Manifest

15. Article 10: The Right to Freedom of Expression
1. Introduction
2. Expression
3. Medium, Manner and Timing of Communication
4. Freedom to Receive and Impart Information and Ideas
5. Interference
6. Positive Duties
7. Permitted Interferences – Generally
8. Proportionality – General Principles
9. National Security
10. Prevention of Disorder or Crime
11. Protection of Health or Morals
12. Protection of the Reputation of Others
13. Protection of the Rights of Others
14. Preventing the Disclosure of Information Received in Confidence
15. Maintaining the Authority and Impartiality of the Judiciary

16. Article 14: Prohibition of Discrimination
1. Introduction
2. Application: No Independent Existence
3. Without Discrimination
4. Grounds of Prohibited Discrimination
5. Analogous Position – Comparators
6. Objective and Reasonable Justification
7. Remedy for Breach
8. Positive Duties

17. Article 1 of Protocol No 1: Protection of Property
1. Introduction
2. Possessions
3. Interferences with the Peaceful Enjoyment of Possessions
4. Justifying Interferences
5. Consumer Protection
6. Planning and the Environment
7. The Rights of Others – Article 1 of Protocol 1
8. Social Justice
9. Protection of Morals
10. Prevention of Crime and Illegality
11. Economic Well-being of the Country
12. Reduction of the National Budget Deficit

“[Human Rights Law] is well structured and informative… Amos has done well to compress the case law on the Act into 178 pages without omitting reference to all of the key cases…It should serve as a very useful book for students and practitioners alike.” –  Robert Weir, New Law Journal (of the second edition)

“This is a solid textbook on domestic human rights law…a real boon to students and those approaching the field for the first time.” –  Roger Smith, Director of Justice, New Law Journal (of the first edition)

“The first work in which the interpretation and application of the act, by courts in England and Wales, is comprehensively examined and analysed.” –  A G Noorani, Economic and Political Weekly (of the first edition)

“The introductory chapter, providing background and dealing with interpretation, brings together a wide range of useful information … and is a good starting point for the keen student … The book is characterised by clarity of explanation combined with detailed treatment that manages to incorporate much more than one might expect from a book that addresses such wide-ranging issues.” –  Peter Halstead, The Law Teacher (of the first edition)