We are beginning to receive a number of enquires relating to the new Human Rights Act 1998.

This Act came into force on October 2 and will give further effect in the UK to the fundamental rights and freedoms in the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

These rights are therefore not new but the main advantage of the law will be access to UK courts to safeguard rights rather than have to take a case to the Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, which is a very lengthy process.

There are 16 basic rights within the Human Rights Act. Apart from fundamental rights such as the right to life, prohibition of torture, slavery, etc, they also affect your rights in every day life, such as:

Right to liberty and security;

Right to a fair trail (including public hearings);

No punishment without law;

Right to respect for private and family life;

Freedom of thought, conscience and religion;

Freedom of expression;

Right to marry and start a family;

Prohibition of discrimination;

Protection of property;

Right to education.

All public authorities, including Government ministers, civil servants, local authorities and agencies like the police and courts must pay proper attention to your rights when they make decisions that affect you.

You do not get unlimited rights under the Act as most will have some boundaries to prevent them unfairly affecting rights of others, or overriding rights of the wider community.

For more information you can telephone us on (01527) 831480 or call at 47 Worcester Road. You can also visit the Home Office website on www.homeoffice.gov.uk/hract.