Human Rights Policy

The Human Rights Act 1998 was a clear statement of rights that need to be taken into account in the delivery of public services.

The vision behind the Act was that it would bring about cultural change where service decisions would be made with reference to basic rights, such as the right to privacy and family life, the right to a fair hearing and the right not to suffer degrading treatment.

The Government expected that public service decision-makers would work within a human rights framework. Managers would have a clear understanding of their obligations under the Act and carefully balance an individual's rights against those of the wider community when making their decisions.

Please see the current Human Rights Policy