Human Rights Act 1998

Introduction

The **Human Rights Act 1998 ('HRA 1998')** brought the rights guaranteed by the **European Convention on Human Rights ('ECHR')** into domestic law in England and Wales. This chapter examines **how the HRA 1998 operates** — the relationship between the **European Court of Human Rights ('ECtHR')** and the domestic courts, the duty of **compatible interpretation** (s. 3), the **declaration of incompatibility** (s. 4), **remedial orders** (s. 10), the duties imposed on **public authorities** (s. 6), the **'victim' test for standing** (s. 7) and **damages** (s. 8) — and then works through each of **the Convention rights** set out in **Schedule 1** (Articles 2 to 14, the First Protocol and Protocol 13).

Assessment focus

For the SQE1 FLK1 assessment you must understand the **mechanics of the HRA 1998** and the **scope of each Convention right**. Examiners commonly test the **'victim' standing requirement under s. 7** (pressure groups are not victims), the distinction between a **declaration of incompatibility** (which does not invalidate legislation) and the **striking down of incompatible delegated legislation** under s. 6, the difference between **absolute, limited and qualified rights**, and the **deportation / extradition** line of authority under Articles 2 and 3. Questions are single best answer questions (SBAQs) set in **realistic client scenarios**: you must **apply** the right classification and the correct statutory mechanism rather than merely recall it. This is a closed-book assessment — recall the section numbers and the leading cases from memory.

Study tips

1) Memorise the **HRA 1998 section map**: s. 2 (take into account ECtHR), s. 3 (compatible interpretation 'so far as possible'), s. 4 (declaration of incompatibility), s. 6 (public authorities), s. 7 (victim/standing), s. 8 (damages), s. 10 + Sch 2 (remedial orders). 2) Remember a declaration of incompatibility **does not affect the validity or operation** of the offending statute (s. 4(6)) — it only creates **political pressure**. 3) Distinguish **absolute** (Arts 3, 7), **limited** (Arts 2, 5) and **qualified** (Arts 8, 9, 10, 11) rights. 4) For **horizontal effect**, the court is itself a public authority (s. 6(3)) and must act compatibly — see **Venables and Thompson v News Group Newspapers**. 5) Learn the **deportation/extradition** rule: **Soering v UK**, **Chahal v UK** — a real risk of Article 3 ill-treatment (or, post-Protocol 13, the death penalty engaging Article 2) makes removal unlawful.