Information Note on the Court’s case-law No.
September 1998
McLeod v. the United Kingdom - 24755/94
Judgment 23.9.1998
Article 8
Article 8-1
Respect for home
Respect for private life
Police entry into home to prevent breach of the peace: violation
[This summary is extracted from the Court’s official reports (Series A or Reports of Judgments and Decisions). Its formatting and structure may therefore differ from the Case-Law Information Note summaries.]
I.ARTICLE 8 OF THE CONVENTION
A.Alleged interference with right to respect for private life and home
1.Interference
Not disputed that entry of two police officers into applicant’s home constituted interference with right to respect for private life and home.
2.“In accordance with the law”
Concept of breach of the peace sufficiently clearly defined in English law – power of police to enter into and remain on private property to prevent breach of the peace preserved by section 17(6) of Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 – interference “in accordance with the law”.
3.Legitimate aim
Prevention of disorder or crime.
4.“Necessary in a democratic society”
Police officers did not take steps to verify whether applicant’s ex-husband entitled to enter her home to remove property – upon being informed applicant not present, police officers should not have entered house since there was little risk of crime or disorder occurring – interference disproportionate.
Conclusion: violation (seven votes to two).
B.Alleged failure to comply with positive obligation
Given Court’s finding that entry of police into applicant’s home not justified, not necessary to examine further this complaint.
Conclusion: not necessary to examine complaint (unanimously).
II.ARTICLE 1 OF PROTOCOL No. 1
Complaint not pursued.
Conclusion: not necessary to examine complaint (unanimously).
III.ARTICLE 50 OF THE CONVENTION
A.Non-pecuniary damage: finding of violation sufficient just satisfaction.
B.Costs and expenses: awarded on equitable basis.
Conclusion: respondent State to pay specified sum to applicant (unanimously).
© Council of Europe/European Court of Human Rights
This summary by the Registry does not bind the Court.
Click here for the Case-Law Information Notes
Full & Egal Universal Law Academy