Since the Human Rights Act came into force in 2000, you have certain rights and freedoms in the UK. The Act is designed to protect those rights and freedoms. The Human Rights Act contains very similar rights to those listed in the European Convention on Human Rights, which was signed in 1950.

All public bodies within the United Kingdom (including government departments, the police, and local councils) must abide by the Act.

Before the Human Rights Act, UK citizens complaining about human rights violations had to take their cases to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, which could take many years. Now, if a person feels that a public body has breached their human rights, they can take the matter to a court or tribunal in the United Kingdom.

Rights protected include:

• The right to life.
• The right to a private and family life.
• The right not to be tortured or inhumanely or degradingly treated.
• The right to liberty.
• The right to a fair and public trial.
• The right to freedom of thought.
• The right to freedom of expression.