The Committee of Ministers, under the terms of Article 32 (art. 32) of
the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental
Freedoms (hereinafter referred to as "the convention"),
Having regard to the reports drawn up by the European Commission of
Human Rights in accordance with Article 31 (art. 31) of the convention
relating to the applications lodged by Mr Francis Marritt,
Mr George Tomkins, Mr T., Mr Benjamin Wilson, Mr Mark Louis Fischer,
Mr David John Petty and Mr Peter Chester against the United
Kingdom (Nos. 7217/75, 8190/78, 8231/78, 8568/79, 8712/79,
9236/81 and 9488/81);
Whereas on 27 September 1985 the Commission transmitted the said
reports to the Committee of Ministers and whereas the period of three
months provided for in Article 32, paragraph 1 (art. 32-1), of the
convention has elapsed without the cases having been brought before
the European Court of Human Rights in pursuance of Article 48
(art. 48) of the convention;
Whereas in their applications introduced between 19 December 1974 and
21 June 1980 the applicants complained of the censorship of their
correspondence by the British prison authorities and alleged breaches
of Article 8 (art. 8) of the convention, Mr Marritt also complaining
of a denial of access to court, contrary to Article 6, paragraph 1
(art. 6-1), of the convention, and Mr Chester of breaches of
Articles 10, 17 and 18 (art. 10, art. 17, art. 18) arising out of the
censorship matter;
Whereas the Commission declared the applications admissible on
4 March 1985 and in its reports adopted on 13 May 1985 it expressed
the opinion that there had been breaches of Article 8 (art. 8) of the
convention by unanimous votes in each case, that there had been a
breach of Article 6, paragraph 1 (art. 6-1), of the convention in the
case of Mr Marritt, and that there was no need to examine
Mr Chester's censorship complaints under Articles 10, 17 and 18
(art. 10, art. 17, art. 18) of the convention;
Agreeing with the opinion expressed by the Commission in accordance
with Article 31, paragraph 1 (art. 31-1), of the convention;
Whereas during the examination of these cases the Government of the
United Kingdom informed the Committee of Ministers that it accepted
the opinions expressed by the Commission in its reports;
Whereas the Commission has stated that the merits of these
applications resemble the test case of "Silver and others" and whereas
in its Resolution DH (85) 15 in the "Silver and others" case the
Committee was informed by the Government of the United Kingdom of the
measures taken in consequence of the judgment of the Court, which
information was summarised in the appendix to that resolution;
Voting in accordance with the provisions of Article 32, paragraph 1
(art. 32-1), of the convention,
a. Decides:
i. that there has been a violation of Article 8 (art. 8) of the
convention in these cases;
ii. that there has been a violation of Article 6, paragraph 1
(art. 6-1), in the case of Mr Marritt;
b. Decides that no further action is called for in these cases.