The legal system
In this section:
People who live in the UK have both rights and responsibilities which are set out in law. Everyone has the right to equal treatment – whoever they are and wherever they come from.
Your rights
The Human Rights Act
These rights are set out in British law in the Human Rights Act 1998 and apply to everyone in the UK. Public bodies such as the police, schools and hospitals have to work in a way that follows the Human Rights Act.
Equal opportunities
Laws ensure that people are not treated unfairly because of their gender; marital status; gender reassignment; race; disability; sexual orientation; religion or belief; or age. In Northern Ireland, the law also bans discrimination on grounds of political opinion.
- Discrimination: your rights
- Equality and Human Rights Commission
- Scottish Human Rights Commission
- Equality Commission for Northern Ireland
- Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
If you face problems with discrimination, you can get more information from the Citizens’ Advice Bureau (CAB). The CAB can give you advice online, by telephone or at one of their offices.
Your responsibilities
Your responsibility is to obey the law. There are two types of law: criminal law and civil law.
If you break a criminal law, the police will be involved and you may need to attend one of the criminal courts. You should ensure that you’re familiar with the laws of the UK and how they may differ from your country.
Civil law is used to resolve disputes between people and the civil courts decide who is right and who is wrong. These could include disputes between a landlord and tenant; an employer and an employee; or a seller and buyer.
Law enforcement
The police force protects the public and solves crimes. Police officers are independent of government and must obey the law. Their powers are also defined in codes of practice. When dealing with the public they must not discriminate against you; be abusive; or make false statements. If the police abuse their authority by breaking the law or their code of practice, they can be disciplined or prosecuted.
If you have to deal with the police you should ensure that you’re aware of your rights as well as what powers the police have and what might be expected of you.
Legal advice
Solicitors
Solicitors can help you with legal problems. They are trained lawyers who give advice and may also represent you in court. Solicitors have different areas of expertise, so it’s important that you check that they have the right skills to represent you. Solicitors’ charges are usually based on how much time they spend on a case. It’s very important to find out at the start how much a case is likely to cost.
Legal aid
If you’re questioned or charged with a crime you’re entitled to free advice from a duty solicitor and free representation by a solicitor for your first appearance in court. You may get help with costs for further appearances in court, although this depends on the type of case and your income and savings. A solicitor can give information and advice on this.
Solicitors can also give information on schemes to cover the cost of their advice. Not all types of cases are covered by these schemes and the help available also depends on your income and savings.
Victims of crime
If you’re a victim of crime, you should contact the police first. The police can advise you about what to do next and keep you up to date as your case progresses. If you’re a victim of a violent crime you can apply to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority for compensation. The crime must be reported to the police as quickly as possible and the application for compensation must be made within two years.